On April 20, 2024, the United States House of Representatives passed a legislative package worth $95 billion, providing security assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The package included $61 billion to address the conflict in Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel, and $8 billion for the Asia Pacific region, which provides for Taiwan. Despite the objections of Republican hardliners, the legislation is expected to pass in the Democratic-majority Senate next week and be signed into law by President Joe Biden.
The aid package provides $61 billion to address the conflict in Ukraine. This includes $23 billion to replenish US weapons, stocks, and facilities, which is expected to help Ukraine fight against Russia’s two-year invasion. It also includes $26 billion for Israel, including $9 billion for humanitarian needs, and $8 billion for the Asia Pacific, including Taiwan. The aid for Taiwan is expected to help with the country’s military defence against China.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed his gratitude to US lawmakers for their support. He said that the House-passed US aid bill would help keep the war from expanding, save thousands of lives, and strengthen both nations. However, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized the new legislation, saying that military assistance to the Kyiv regime is a direct sponsorship of terrorist activity.
The passage of the long-awaited legislation was closely watched by US defence contractors, who could be in line for considerable contracts to supply equipment for Ukraine and other US partners. US political leaders from President Joe Biden to top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell had been urging embattled Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson to bring the legislative package up for a vote. Biden said that the aid package comes at a moment of grave urgency, with Israel facing unprecedented attacks from Iran and Ukraine under continued bombardment from Russia.
The passage of the aid package is expected to provide significant support to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. However, some Republicans repeatedly threatened to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson, who became speaker in October after party hardliners took down his predecessor, Kevin McCarthy. The aid package is seen as a critical move towards supporting the US’s allies in the face of growing global threats.
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