Biden requests supplement of 100 billion USD

US President Joe Biden may ponder a supplement request of around 100 billion USD that would include defence aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, reports Reuters, October 17.

The propsal returns to its former level for Ukraine which initially was in line for around 24 bn US in aid, although remains a “one shot” deal before Biden heads to the polls at the end of 2024.

The Americans are the most significant donor to Israel giving them 3.8 billion USD per annum.

Also, since the breaking out of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, The Council on Foreign Relations found that Washington has provided $76.8 billion in aid from January 24, 2022 to July 31, 2023.

The total of $76.8 billion included humanitarian, weaponry, financial, and security assistance aid. It is believed that the updated total for US funding to Ukraine is around $113 billion.

Biden is expected to ask Congress to pass the supplemental spending bill as the US continues to mark its involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war and the tensions between Israel and Palestine which escalated as Palestinian militant group Hamas shocked Israel with a deadly attack from the under-siege Gaza Strip.

The leader of the free world recently went on a trip to Israel to address the need for humanitarian assistance for the people of Gaza as well as addressing the fiery situation more generally between the densely populated Palestinian territory and Israel.

President Biden, who returned to Washington on October 19, spent 7 hours in an Israeli warzone to show solidarity with the country following October 7’s attack which killed 1,400 Israelis.

The Democrat had intentions to go to Jordan for a summit with the leaders of Palestine and Egypt as well as King Abdullah II of Jordan however the meeting was called off due to the recent hospital blast.

Gaza’s Al-Ahli hospital was attacked on October 17 as nearly 500 civilians were murdered.

It is believed that the explosions were caused by an Israeli army plane dropping bombs in the vicinity of the hospital however Israel claimed that Palestinian militants misfired a rocket.

On October 19, the White House said in a statement, “Tomorrow (October 20), President Biden will address the nation to discuss our response to Hamas’ terrorist attacks against Israel and Russia’s ongoing brutal war against Ukraine.”.

Biden’s administration has been working on the request for weeks. Ben Cardin, the Democrat Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee claimed that he is yet to see the exact figure that the President has requested but noted it could easily exceed $100 billion.

He also said that he is hopeful that the supplement request will pass the Senate with support from Republicans and Democrats.

“I think this is our best shot to get it done”.

Reuters