US Congress Voted to pass a massive $95 billion foreign aid budget this week. This paves the way for Ukraine to receive a new financial injection after months of delays.
The US Senate voted 79-18 on Tuesday (April 23) to approve four bills that were approved by the US House of Representatives. on Saturday (20), after Republican leaders abruptly changed their stance last week. And it opens the way for a vote on a law to budget $95 billion in foreign aid, most of which is military aid to the United States. It will be given to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and partner countries in the Indo-Pacific.
The four bills are tied together into a single package on the Senate floor. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden confirmed he is ready to sign the bill into law by Wednesday (24).
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed appreciation and thanks to the US congressman. for providing much-needed assistance to Ukraine
“This vote reflects that. America remains a beacon of democracy for democracy. and the leader of the free world,” Zelensky said in a statement via the Telegram app.
The largest chunk of the budget, $61 billion, is earmarked for Ukraine. Next is $26 billion for support for Israel and assistance for civilians in conflict zones around the world. The final amount is $8.12 billion for “Resisting the influence of the Chinese Communist Party” in the Indo-Pacific
The fourth bill, which the House of Representatives added to the package last week, sets out measures that would lead to a ban on TikTok in the US, transfer of frozen Russian assets to bring. Go help Ukraine Including a new wave of sanctions against Iran.
Two U.S. officials told Reuters the Biden administration is preparing to approve a $1 billion military aid package to Ukraine, the first in the bill. It will cover the entire vehicle. Stinger rockets, ammunition for use with the HIMARS rocket system, 155 mm artillery shells, TOW and Javelin anti-tank missiles, and other weapon systems. that can be sent into service on the battlefield immediately
Democratic and Republican Senate leaders pointed out that The move by Congress is a notice to Russian President Vladimir Putin and other U.S. “foreign enemies” that Washington stands ready to continue supporting Ukraine and its partners.
“This national security bill is one of the most important measures passed by Congress. Its purpose is to protect America’s security. and the stability of Western democracies,” said Chuck Schumer, leader of the Senate Democratic majority. stated at a press conference after the vote
The aid package could be the last Ukraine will receive from Washington until the November presidential election, which will see both the White House and the White House run. Member of the House of Representatives Including about one-third of the senators.
The flow of weapons into Ukraine is expected to improve Kiev’s chances of blocking a major Russian advance in the east. But most analysts say such assistance would be more helpful. Had it been approved as soon as Biden requested it late last year?
As for Israel, it is not clear whether Budget support received from the United States What impact will this time have on the war in Gaza? But Israel has received security funding from the United States in the past. It’s already billions of dollars a year.
US-Israeli relations have become sour over Israel’s conduct of war in Gaza. Including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s push to send troops into Rafah, where some 1.5 million Palestinian civilians take refuge.
Israel Katz, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel Posted a message through Approval of $13 billion military aid package for Israel is considered “Send a strong warning to all our enemies.”
Supporters of the law also expect that Palestinian civilians in Gaza will likely benefit from this humanitarian relief package. After the Israeli army crushed the country until it was destroyed in revenge for the Hamas group that attacked the southern Jewish state on October 7 last year.
The Gaza Health Authority stated that Israeli offensives have killed at least 34,000 Palestinians there.
The process of passing the Foreign Aid Budget Act has also received a lot of attention from the arms industry. Because it is certain that many US defense companies They are waiting to win contracts to produce and deliver military equipment to Ukraine and other American partner countries.
Experts believe that The budget bill will increase order volumes for major weapons maker RTX Corp and other companies. that are contractors to the US government, such as Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, and Northrop Grumman, etc.
Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) approved a new 1.5 billion euro financial aid package for Ukraine on Wednesday, and Kyiv hopes to receive up to 10,000 euros more from the EU. million euros within this year
Ukraine’s Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko said the EU had provided 31 billion euros in aid to Ukraine and was Kiev’s biggest aid donor since the war with Russia erupted in February. . Year 2022
Taiwan is another country that will benefit from the new U.S. bailout, with President Tsai Ing-wen saying on Wednesday she was “extremely pleased” to hear the news that Congress had passed the relief bill. nation This includes providing arms support to Taiwan.
Qiu Guozheng, Minister of Defense of Taiwan Stating that Taipei will hold discussions with the United States. Again, what sectors will the aid be used for?
“The United States has shown good intentions. And this is a matter that both sides will have to discuss in detail again,” he told parliament.
The United States is an important power that supports Taiwan on the world stage. It is also a major arms supplier. Even though there are no official diplomatic relations. China, which maintains Taiwan is part of its territory, has repeatedly warned America to stop arming the democratic island.
Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for mainland China’s Taiwan Affairs Office It condemned the US aid package as “sending the wrong signal to separatists and those calling for Taiwanese independence.” which China strongly opposes.”
“We ask that the United States There are serious measures. To fulfill its promise not to support Taiwanese independence. And please stop arming Taiwan in any form,” she said.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry also warned that escalating “military collusion” between the United States and Taiwan would not be good for Taiwan’s own security.
In addition to the foreign aid budget The draft law also imposes measures to force ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, to sell shares in the app. Share popular short videos within 9 months to 1 year or TikTok will be banned in the US.
“For years, we allowed the Chinese Communist Party to control one of America’s most popular apps. That is a shallow and dangerous view,” said Marco Rubio, the Republican chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
“This new law will force Chinese owners to sell such apps. This is a step that will have a positive impact on America.”
politicians in the united states Many are concerned that China might use TikTok as a way to spy on Americans’ private information, while TikTok itself vehemently insists that it has never shared it. and will never share user personal information with the Chinese government.
TikTok prepares to file lawsuit in court Claiming that the orders of the United States That violates the First Amendment to the American Constitution, which guarantees that no law will be enacted that is contrary to freedom of religion, freedom of expression. and media freedom Meanwhile, a number of TikTok users are also expected to oppose the US measures.
The American Civil Liberties Union warned that a ban or forced sale of TikTok shares would set a worrying international precedent for government overreach over social media. nationally owned Other countries may also take similar measures.
A four-year legal storm has dragged on for TikTok, which has 170 million users in the US. It’s just one of many. The internet and technology front between Washington and Beijing. Last week, Apple announced that it had been ordered by the Chinese government to remove Meta’s WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store in China, citing security concerns as well.
Tags: Light conflict United States budgets billion UkraineIsraelTaiwan paves ban TikTok
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