US authorizes multimillion-dollar aid package for Ukraine and Israel
This Saturday, the United States House of Representatives approved a substantial aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, totaling about 90 billion euros.
The aid allocation includes approximately 57 billion euros for Ukraine, 12.1 billion euros for Israel, and 7.5 billion euros for Taiwan.
The package also includes provisions for providing 8.4 billion euros to address urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza and other regions across the globe.
US President Joe Biden has pledged to enact this aid package once it receives approval in the Senate. The vote in the House ended with 311 members in favor and 112 against, with bipartisan support from both Democrats and Republicans.
In the case of Ukraine, it is worth noting that over one-third of the funds will be allocated towards repairing worn-out North American arsenals. These arsenals have been strained due to years of continuous military aid provision to Ukraine. Replacing them would facilitate future deliveries of equipment to the Ukrainian government in the coming months.
It is important to mention that Congress had not approved such a substantial measure since December 2022 due to disputes between Democrats and Republicans, as well as disagreements within the conservative party itself. In fact, the House’s president, Mike Johnson, has faced increasing opposition from a faction within his party that strongly opposes providing further aid to Ukraine.
Among other aspects, the aid package for Ukraine includes approximately 12 billion euros for training, equipping, and financing the needs of the Ukrainian Army. Additionally, it provides about 9.3 billion euros in “forgivable loans” for essential economic and budgetary support, including the energy and infrastructure sectors.
Furthermore, the package includes provisions for allocating 8.4 billion euros to address “the urgent humanitarian needs of the Gaza population” which references the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians trapped in the southern enclave due to Israeli bombings, as well as other regions worldwide.
Biden: “It is a message of power and leadership”
In his message of congratulations, President Biden lauded the unity displayed by representatives from both parties who supported a plan defending “the national security interests of the United States” and “sending a clear message about American power and leadership on the world stage.”
He stated, “At this critical turning point, we have come together to answer the call of history. This package will provide critical support to Israel and Ukraine, offer desperately needed humanitarian aid to Gaza, Sudan, Haiti, and other regions affected by conflict and natural disasters globally, and strengthen security and stability in the Indo-Pacific.”
Biden emphasized that this successful vote takes place “at a time of grave urgency, with Israel facing unprecedented attacks from Iran and Ukraine enduring continued bombings by Russia.”
Finally, the president expressed gratitude to Johnson and the bipartisan coalition of House lawmakers who prioritized “putting US national security first and foremost” through their efforts.