Donald Trump Blocks Ukraine From Global Aid, Israel Exempted

US President Donald Trump has ordered a freeze on all foreign aid, exempting only Israel and Egypt, a landmark move reflective of his “America First” policy.

The sweeping directive, signed shortly after Trump’s inauguration, has halted funding for development assistance, military aid, and emergency programmes globally, including billions of dollars sent to Ukraine in its battle against Russian aggression under the previous Biden administration.

An internal memo from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, cited in the AFP report, outlined the details of the directive.

“No new funds shall be obligated for new awards or extensions of existing awards until each proposed new award or extension has been reviewed and approved,” the memo stated.

Key exceptions

While the freeze applies to most foreign aid programmes, military funding to Israel and Egypt remains untouched. Israel, a long-standing recipient of major arms packages from the United States, has seen its assistance expand further following the Gaza conflict.

Similarly, Egypt, which has benefited from US defence aid since its 1979 peace treaty with Israel, retains its exemption.

Rubio’s memo also allowed for emergency food assistance to continue, citing ongoing humanitarian crises in countries like Sudan and Syria.

Temporary funding for administrative expenses and salaries was also permitted, with the State Department granted authority to approve additional case-by-case exceptions.The memo called for an internal review of all foreign aid programmes to be completed within 85 days.

Rubio highlighted the necessity of ensuring that existing commitments were “not duplicated, are effective and are consistent with President Trump’s foreign policy.”

According to reports, the freeze would pause funding for PEPFAR, the US-led anti-HIV/AIDS initiative credited with saving 26 million lives since its launch in 2003 under former President George W. Bush.

Impact on Ukraine

The freeze is expected to severely impact Ukraine, which had received significant military support under the Biden administration to counter Russian advances.

The Trump administration’s focus on limiting aid underscores its commitment to reducing overseas commitments in favour of domestic priorities.

As the world’s largest donor in dollar terms, the United States allocated over $64 billion in foreign assistance in 2023, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

However, Trump’s decision reflects a broader shift in US foreign policy under his administration.