Democrats protest against the diversion of aid funds for Ukraine to Latin American countries

The case concerns $52 million in loans for the purchase of American equipment (Foreign Military Financing program), which, according to Democrats, the Department of State was to redirect from, among others, Ukraine, Slovakia and North Macedonia to Panama, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia.

Letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The deputy heads of the House of Representatives and Senate foreign affairs committees, Gregory Meeks and Jeanne Shaheen, protested against this intention in a letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, arguing that the administration has no right to divert funds that, according to the act, were related to aid to Ukraine.

As the Washington Post wrote - citing three American officials - Donald Trump's administration informed Congress that, despite the Democrats blocking the operation, it intends to transfer these funds. In addition to European countries, this includes money originally intended for Tunisia and Iraq under a separate law. According to the congressmen, the ministry's representatives were unable to explain during briefings or in written responses how transferring money to countries in the Western Hemisphere would be consistent with the act.

Statement from the Department of State

In a statement to the Washington Post, the Department of State argued that shifting resources from the Middle East and Europe to the Western Hemisphere is consistent with the National Security Strategy. "The funds used in our region will be used to combat narco-terrorism in our hemisphere and help continue to secure the Panama Canal," the ministry said, without referring to allegations of violation of regulations.

The newspaper also draws attention to the fact that the decision is part of broader actions of the Trump administration aimed at limiting US spending and military presence in Europe in favor of the Western Hemisphere.