Rubio: US grants exceptions to foreign aid freeze, many programs resumed

The Washington administration has made significant exceptions to the suspension of US foreign aid, with many programs already resumed, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced.

“We froze foreign aid so that we could review these programs,” Rubio stated at a joint press conference with Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves in San Jose, Caliber.Az reports via international media.

“There is an exception process [to the aid freeze] so that we can review these programs. Today, we made exceptions here for programs that are fully justified,” he added.

Rubio emphasized that exemptions are granted for initiatives that “strengthen America’s security, make it stronger.” He described the measures as “comprehensive exemptions” that have been in effect for about a week.

On the night of January 25, Politico reported that Rubio had ordered an immediate 90-day suspension of nearly all US foreign aid programs. However, military funding for Israel and Egypt remained unaffected. At the time, the publication’s sources suggested the freeze would likely impact aid to Ukraine, Jordan, and Taiwan.

According to Reuters, while the US initially suspended military aid to Ukraine, deliveries of weapons and equipment had already resumed by February 3. The report also noted internal disputes within the US administration regarding the scale of arms transfers from American stockpiles.

Meanwhile, Rubio dismissed claims that Washington was negotiating Canada’s accession as a US state.

“Well, we’re not in negotiations to make them a state,” he told Fox News when asked about Donald Trump’s suggestion that Canada should become part of the US.

Instead, Rubio clarified that Washington’s focus is on trade, stating, “The issue of tariffs will affect the relationship between the countries.” He added that the US and Canada “remain and will always be neighbors.”

By Tamilla Hasanova