Washington: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced the suspension of nearly all US foreign aid, with exceptions for Israel and Egypt, as detailed in an internal memo. This move aligns with President Donald Trump's agenda and follows an executive order issued on the day of his inauguration, which mandates a 90-day freeze on US foreign aid.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the internal memo instructed employees that "no new funding may be committed to any party or any current funding extended until each new funding or extension is reviewed and approved." The memo specifically exempts emergency food aid from this suspension. Notably absent from the memo is any mention of Ukraine, which had been a significant recipient of aid during former President Joe Biden's administration, suggesting that this assistance has also been halted.

The memo underscores the importance of reassessing foreign aid commitments to ensure they are "non-duplicative, effective, and consistent with President Trump's foreign policy." Israel and Egypt, two of the largest beneficiaries of US military aid, remain unaffected by this suspension. This decision reflects the new administration's focus on reevaluating foreign aid allocations to align with its strategic objectives.