US Republicans block new aid for Ukraine and Israel
US Republicans block new aid for Ukraine and Israel
The opposition US Republicans have initially blocked a billion-dollar aid package for Israel and Ukraine. The background is the dispute over immigration policy and securing the southern border of the USA with Mexico.
The Republican Party is not giving up its resistance: a package with new money for Ukraine and Israel failed to achieve the necessary majority in the US Congress. The Senate majority leader spoke of a “serious moment that will have lasting consequences for the 21st century.”
DThe opposition US Republicans have initially blocked a billion-dollar aid package for Israel and Ukraine. The conservatives refused to support the package with a total volume of 106 billion dollars (around 98 billion euros) on Wednesday in a cross-party vote in the Senate, all Republicans in the Senate voted “no”. The background is the dispute over immigration policy and securing the southern border of the USA with Mexico.
In addition to the Republicans, independent Senator Bernie Sanders also refused to approve the package. Sanders usually votes with Democrats but had expressed concerns about funding Israel’s “current inhumane military strategy” against the Palestinians. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also voted “no” on procedural grounds to allow the proposal to be revised. After the vote, the Democrat spoke of a “serious moment that will have lasting consequences for the 21st century” and risks the decline of Western democracy.
US President Joe Biden had signaled a willingness to compromise before the congressional vote. Biden said he was ready to make “big compromises” on immigration policy so that Congress could release funding for Ukraine. The release of financial resources to support Ukraine “cannot wait any longer”; failure would be the “biggest gift” to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Democrats argue that blocking the bill would signal to both U.S. opponents and allies that the United States does not stand behind its international partners.
Biden asked Congress in October for a financial package of $106 billion. It includes, among other things, $61.4 billion for Ukraine, $14.3 billion for Israel in the war against the radical Islamic Palestinian organization Hamas, aid for other allies such as Taiwan and funds to protect the border with Mexico.
Resistance to further aid to Ukraine among Republicans
Among Republicans, there is support for new aid to Israel, but resistance to new funding for Ukraine. With their no, the Republicans want, among other things, to enforce their demands for a stricter immigration policy and control of the southern border. In the Senate, laws require a majority of 60 of the 100 senators for procedural preliminary votes. The Republicans currently have 49 senators and can block legislative projects with their blocking minority.
Republicans and Democrats in Congress have been arguing for months about the financing of billions in aid for Ukraine and Israel, for US interests in the Indo-Pacific and for international humanitarian aid. An agreement on a new budget was only possible after aid for Ukraine had been excluded.
The United States is Ukraine’s main supporter in the war against Russian invading forces. Since the start of Russia’s war of aggression in February 2022, the United States has already provided or promised more than $44 billion in military aid to Ukraine.