Trump redirects $52 million military aid from Europe to Latin America

The Trump administration is redirecting $52 million in US military aid from countries in Europe and the Middle East to support US-aligned governments in Latin America.

US Congress was notified that the funds would be diverted from Iraq, Tunisia, and NATO members Slovakia and North Macedonia and allocated to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Panama, Euronews reports.

The department said the funding would support efforts to combat “narcoterrorism in our backyard” and help “continue to secure the Panama Canal.” It added that the move would “prevent adversaries from establishing strategic footholds in our hemisphere.”

The affected countries are still expected to receive some US assistance, although the exact amounts have not been disclosed.

The decision follows US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s trip to South America last week, where he met with conservative leaders in Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador and pledged further US support and cooperation.

The move comes as President Donald Trump has increasingly focused on the Americas since returning to the White House in January 2025. His administration has carried out strikes against alleged drug-trafficking boats in the region and launched an operation targeting former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, while also seeking greater access to Venezuela’s oil industry.

At the same time, Washington has sought to strengthen ties with governments viewed as aligned with Trump’s agenda. In August, the State Department said it planned to announce a $1 billion security package for Colombia under President Abelardo de la Espriella’s administration, saying the package was intended to help Washington and Bogotá achieve “our shared goals.”

Trump has praised de la Espriella, describing him as a “smart, strong, and tough leader” and pledging the “total support and strength of the United States behind him.”

By Vafa Guliyeva