Trump administration redirects $52 million in military aid to Latin America despite Congressional ban

Brief retelling from RIA II

The administration of US President Donald Trump is redirecting $52 million in military aid to conservative governments in Latin America.

The US State Department explained the redirection of funds by the need to combat drug terrorism, but the decision was suspended at the initiative of Senator Jeanne Sheikhin and member of the House of Representatives Gregory Meeks.

The Trump administration, despite congressional prohibitions, continued to redirect funds to Panama, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia.

WASHINGTON, October 2 - RIA Novosti. The administration of US President Donald Trump, contrary to a congressional ban, is redirecting $52 million in military aid to conservative governments in Latin America instead of countries in Europe and the Middle East, some of which intended to transfer their share to Ukraine, the Washington Post reports, citing American officials.

The US State Department in September announced a decision to redirect several tens of millions of dollars intended for countries in Europe and the Middle East to projects in Latin America, explaining this by the need to combat narco-terrorism. However, at the initiative of Senator Jeanne Sheikhin and member of the House of Representatives Gregory Meeks, this decision was suspended.

“Late Wednesday, the administration secretly notified Congress that it was defying the ban and continuing to move forward with $52 million that had been approved for Slovakia, North Macedonia, Tunisia and Iraq to Panama, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia,” the sources, who wished to remain anonymous, told the publication.

According to the publication, legislators who opposed this decision sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio in which they called this step a violation of the ban they had introduced, as well as the requirements of the law on the intended use of funds. The redirection of funding earmarked for Slovakia and North Macedonia caused particularly strong opposition, as part of these funds were intended to support Ukraine.