U.S. reallocates military aid from Europe and Middle East to support governments in the Americas

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is reallocating tens of millions of dollars in U.S. military assistance from countries in Europe and the Middle East to support conservative-leaning governments in Central and South America. The State Department on Tuesday notified Congress that it will reprogram $52 million in foreign military financing from Slovakia, North Macedonia, Tunisia, and Iraq to Panama, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru last week and pledged additional support as the Trump administration has prioritized the Western Hemisphere in its foreign policy, focusing on combating drug trafficking and illegal immigration. This decision is part of a series of actions that have reduced funding or troop deployments to Europe in response to President Donald Trump's concerns about NATO allies not contributing enough to their defense budgets. Both North Macedonia and Slovakia are NATO members. The administration has emphasized the Western Hemisphere, aligning with right-wing governments as Trump highlights a renewal of the Monroe Doctrine, which asserts U.S. influence in the Americas. Foreign military financing allows recipient countries to purchase military equipment from American defense contractors. The State Department stated that the funds would be used to "combat narcoterrorism in our backyard and help continue to secure the Panama Canal," noting that the Western Hemisphere has historically received less U.S. military assistance. The department added that these funds would prevent adversaries from establishing strategic footholds in the region, indirectly referencing China, which has sought to increase its presence in Latin America. The shift in funding does not eliminate foreign military financing for Tunisia, Iraq, North Macedonia, or Slovakia, although the remaining amounts for those countries were not immediately specified. The State Department indicated that the current distribution of financing does "not align with the administration's prioritization of" the Western Hemisphere.