United States of America: The United States has frozen foreign aid to several countries, including Ukraine, as of Friday, while exempting Israel and Turkey. An internal directive from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, issued shortly after President Donald Trump’s inauguration, underscores an “America First” approach to foreign assistance, according to AFP.

The directive stated, “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.” However, exceptions were granted for emergency food aid and military funding specifically for Israel and Egypt.

This sweeping policy affects various aid categories, including development and military support. Ukraine, which had received substantial weapons funding under the Biden administration to defend against Russian forces, is particularly impacted. The suspension also halts funding for PEPFAR, the US HIV/AIDS programme established under George W. Bush in 2003. This initiative, credited with saving 26 million lives, previously enjoyed bipartisan support in Washington and has been a vital source of anti-retroviral treatments in developing countries, especially in Africa.

Notably, military aid to Israel is exempt, with increased US arms support following the Gaza conflict. Egypt, another long-term recipient of US defence funding since its 1979 peace treaty with Israel, remains unaffected. Rubio’s directive also preserves emergency food aid, which has benefited crisis-affected areas such as Sudan and Syria.

Democratic lawmakers have voiced concerns, noting that PEPFAR supports over 20 million people needing life-saving medication, while US-funded anti-malaria programmes assist approximately 63 million individuals worldwide.