Trump shocks Serbia: Plans to cut economic aid 40% less than last year

Even though, Zv. US President Mike Pence recently of “visited the former communist region to confirm support against” spectre “Russian aggression”, the White House is currently “demanding major financing cuts for its allies”, the article writes in question.

According to this, cuts in the State Department budget would lower funds for Europe and Eurasia by $366m to 2018, compared to what the previous US administration demanded from the US Congress for 2017.

Although it is not safe to pass this budget planned by Trump, but this “delivers a strong message on its priorities”, Bloomberg said, transmits Periscopi.

Serbia is among the countries that will receive less money from the United States to 40% destined for building democracy, rule of law and fighting corruption.

The Obama administration demanded $13.4m for Serbia this year for programmes aimed at improving military training and education, fighting drug trafficking, terrorism and funding for economic development.

According to Bloomberg, nearly 45 percent less was asked for 2018.

The cuts, compared to last year, would be more drastic for Bulgaria (almost 80 per cent), followed by Georgia, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Serbia, Montenegro and Ukraine, which would still have less decline than last year.

Significantly, the Obama administration had left 40 per cent more funding for programmes in Serbia in 2017 than in 2016.

In Ukraine alone, the United States will spend more money, approximately “50m dollars on equipment” to protect sovereignty and territorial integrity./Periscopi/