The US State Department on January 24 issued a 'cease and desist' order for all existing foreign aid and suspended new aid.
The US State Department said the rule would take effect immediately. According to Reuters, the move could cut billions of dollars in US aid worldwide. The US is the world's largest aid donor. In fiscal year 2023, the US disbursed $72 billion in foreign aid.
US soldiers transport humanitarian aid packages to Gaza residents on March 5, 2024.
The move comes after US President Donald Trump ordered a pause pending an assessment of the effectiveness and consistency of his foreign policy. Previously, President Trump issued an executive order suspending foreign aid programs for 90 days on January 20.
"The current allocation of foreign assistance is inconsistent with U.S. interests and in many cases runs counter to American values and destabilizes world peace by promoting ideas abroad that are directly opposed to harmonious and stable relations within and between nations," President Donald Trump's executive order said, citing the temporary suspension of foreign development assistance programs.
According to Reuters, citing a cable approved by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the above decree will exempt Israel and Egypt. No other countries are mentioned in the cable, including Ukraine.
Politico said US officials were extremely concerned about bypassing aid to Ukraine - who saw supporting Kyiv as essential to countering Moscow.
Reuters quoted an anonymous source as saying: "The freeze on international aid will cause US international partners to seek other funding partners - possibly competitors and adversaries - to fill the void and replace US influence if the aid suspension persists."
"Organizations will have to stop all activities, including all life-saving medical services, HIV/AIDS, nutrition, maternal and child health, all agricultural work, all support from organizations," said a senior official at the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
In another development, the US Department of the Interior announced on January 24 that it had officially renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. "Under the direction of the President, the Gulf of Mexico will now officially be known as the Gulf of America and the highest peak in North America will once again be called Mount McKinley," Reuters reported, citing the US Department of the Interior.
President Trump ordered the renaming of the places as part of a series of executive actions after taking office on January 20.
“These changes reaffirm the nation’s commitment to preserving America’s majestic heritage and ensuring that future generations of Americans will honor the legacy of our country’s heroes and historic assets,” the US Department of the Interior said.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/my-dong-bang-loat-vien-tro-nuoc-ngoai-doi-ten-vinh-mexico-18525012507165188.htm
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