Summary

New Secretary of State Marco Rubio froze most foreign aid grants for three months, reportedly shocking State Department officials.

The freeze affects military aid to Ukraine, Jordan, and Taiwan, while exempting aid to Egypt and Israel.

Staff were instructed to halt nearly all existing foreign assistance programs immediately.

The move aligns with Trump’s pledge to negotiate an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, as Russia gains ground in the conflict.

Rubio’s decision has raised concerns about the broader implications for U.S. foreign policy and global alliances.

  • laranis@lemmy.zip
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    30 days ago

    Nobody gets to be shocked. Nobody gets to be surprised. This was all literally written down and circulated. I will “go nuclear” on any MF’er who has the gall to say to my face that they didn’t expect some bullshit the Trump administration pulls.

  • Nightwingdragon@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    For the record, this is not Rubio’s decision. This is Trump’s decision. These people are all just blindly following Trump’s orders.

    • OutlierBlue@lemmy.ca
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      30 days ago

      No, their eyes are open. They are following his orders, but they know what they’re doing.

      • Nightwingdragon@lemmy.world
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        30 days ago

        Oh, I’m not saying they aren’t. They absolutely know what they’re doing and are gleefully marching in lockstep. I’m just saying that Rubio himself didn’t come up with this decision. Trump did.

        • hitmyspot
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          29 days ago

          Then you shouldn’t use the term blindly following orders. Willfully following orders is more appropriate.

          • Nightwingdragon@lemmy.world
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            29 days ago

            Could be both. Do you honestly think Rubio actually has half a clue what the fuck he’s doing with regards to foreign aid? He’s got no fucking idea. So he’s just gladly following whatever Trump tells him to do. He’s both willful and blind.

        • rjthyen@lemm.ee
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          30 days ago

          I don’t think Trump actually comes up with anything himself, that gives him too much credit. He has actual intelligent though evil people telling him what to do, mostly foreign debt holders he’s trying to repay politically instead of financially if I had to guess

      • drthunder@midwest.social
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        29 days ago

        Let’s dispense with the fiction that Marco Rubio doesn’t know what he’s doing, he knows exactly what he’s doing.

        (rubio said this about obama in 2016 please don’t hurt me)

  • Minarble
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    29 days ago

    Just handed over the Pacific Islands to China.

  • Etterra@discuss.online
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    29 days ago

    Rubio: I’m not so little anymore, Daddy Trump says so!

    Eric: My father never calls me little. In fact he never calls me at all.

  • RandAlThor@lemmy.ca
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    30 days ago

    Most of US foreign aid goes to Ukraine, Israel and Egypt. Israel and Egypt are usually the traditional top aid recipients. So none of this is “aid” more like pay off money for geo political aims. Charity part of it is very small. And they are cutting it off. So pathetic.

  • Shardikprime@lemmy.world
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    29 days ago

    I mean, at least it’s logically consistent

    If they expect to end the war by negotiating with both parties, they kind of need to force them to negotiate

    Putin already is straining his resources to the max with the war, he surely be glad for an easy end with lots of posturing

    Ukraine, surely will receive a moral blow, but if a NATO entry is also added into the deal with promised of this not happening again it also sweetens the deal

    People should celebrate DE ESCALATING conflict, not inflaming it

    If that comes with LESS TAXPAYERS money spent outside, isn’t that even better for the people?

    • valtia@lemmy.world
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      29 days ago

      If they expect to end the war by negotiating with both parties, they kind of need to force them to negotiate

      removes biggest negotiating chip immediately

    • Railcar8095@lemm.ee
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      29 days ago

      *Trump: freezes aid to invaded ukraine and keeps aid to invading Israel

      *Some POS: “I mean, at least it’s logically consistent”

      In that sense, you’re right. Probably even far right.

    • DreamlandLividity@lemmy.world
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      29 days ago

      People should celebrate DE ESCALATING conflict, not inflaming it

      In theory, yes.

      I mean, at least it’s logically consistent

      No. Think about it. Would you really want to agree to peace as Russia, if every day you delay you gain more territory? Pausing support gives Russia every incentive to keep figting.

      Especially since pause in support can’t be easily undone. It takes about 3 months from US deciding to send heavy equipment to it arriving at the front lines. A lot longer for jets.

      So it is in Russias best interest to stall 3 months (pretend to negotiate) until Biden’s shipments all arrive and no more is on its way, then push as hard as they can for 3 months until the equipment sent to punish Russia arrives and then finally negotiate.

      Funny that the announced pause is for 3 months. I am sure that is a coincidence.