Politico: US could lose influence in Middle East due to cuts in foreign aid
Reduction in US foreign aid could weaken Washington's influence in the Middle East region, RIA Novosti reports
The newspaper Politico, citing analysts, officials, and humanitarian workers, reports that in 2023 alone, Middle Eastern countries received a total of $4 billion in aid through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Overall, between 2010 and 2023, USAID provided a total of $40 billion in assistance to Middle Eastern countries.
“This drastic move will significantly impact nations in an already volatile region, that is grappling with political instability, humanitarian and economic challenges... and could ultimately undermine Washington's influence in the Middle East,” the newspaper article emphasises.
The report further stresses that Egypt, Israel, and Jordan remain among the primary recipients of US aid, though the impact of funding cuts will be seen in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Gaza, and Lebanon.
