The US government is reportedly working on a budget proposal that would eliminate “almost all financing for international organizations such as the United Nations and NATO” according to the New York Times on Monday, citing government officials and an internal memo. This initiative is part of a plan that would cut the State Department’s budget by nearly 50 percent, said two anonymous officials to the paper. The plan would also propose cuts to international missions for peacekeeping, all exchange programs of the State Department for education and culture, as well as a cut of more than 50 percent in humanitarian support and global health programs. It is unclear if State Secretary Marco Rubio supports this plan. Sources have confirmed to AP the existence of the plan, but emphasized that it would have to pass several review rounds before it is submitted to Congress for voting. A leading US official cited by the news agency called the budget draft “aggressive” in its proposed cuts. In response to questions about the reported plan to cut funding for NATO, the spokesperson of the US State Department, Tammy Bruce, insisted that the US remains fully committed to the military alliance. However, she emphasized that Washington does not see NATO as a tool for waging war, but rather as a means of deterrence. “We want to ensure that (..) the nations in NATO can actually contribute to the mission of NATO, which is deterrence. Not to help fight wars or to help lead wars (..) NATO was conceived as a grouping of countries that should deter bad actors from bad acts” she said. The Trump administration has repeatedly urged NATO members to increase their defense spending and expressed that the US is carrying an disproportionate share of the burden. Trump warned that the US cannot defend NATO members that do not meet the spending target. On Monday, US Vice President JD Vance argued that Europe cannot remain a “perpetual security vassal” of the US and pointed out that the current situation is neither beneficial to the US nor to European countries.
US Considers Cutting Almost All Funding for International Organizations, Including NATO
