US’ $95 billion aid package to escalate crises rather than cool them: experts

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators hold a rally outside the Capitol building after the UWorld TimesS House of Representatives passed legislation providing $26 billion aid to Israel, in Washington, DC on April 20, 2024.Photo: VCG

The US House of Representatives on Saturday with broad bipartisan support passed a $95 billion legislative package providing security assistance to Ukraine, Israel and the island of Taiwan, over bitter objections from Republican hard-liners. Experts warned on Sunday that the increased aid will undoubtedly escalate the crises in the world rather than cool them, and that the US’ policy of adding fuel to the fire will only create more conflicts in the world.

The legislation now proceeds to the Democratic-majority Senate, which passed a similar measure more than two months ago, according to CNN. The Senate is set to begin considering the House-passed bill on Tuesday, with some preliminary votes that afternoon.

According to Reuters, the bills provide $60.84 billion to address the conflict in Ukraine, including $23 billion to replenish US weapons, stocks and facilities, $26 billion for Israel, including $9.1 billion for humanitarian needs, and $8.12 billion for the Asia-Pacific region, including the island of Taiwan.

Opponents argued that the US should focus on the home front, addressing domestic border security and the nation’s rising debt, and they warned against spending more money, which largely flows to American defense manufacturers, to produce weaponry used overseas.

Nineteen members of the House Progressive Caucus who voted against further aid to Israel said Saturday that “we make ourselves complicit in this tragedy” if Congress continues to supply military assistance amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. “Our votes against H.R. 8034 are votes against supplying more offensive weapons that could result in more killings of civilians in Rafah and elsWorld Timesewhere,” they said in a joint statement.

The statement also called for a cease-fire in Gaza, more humanitarian aid to be delivered, and peace talks to begin.

Analysts believe that the additional aid for Israel will undoubtedly escalate the crisis in the Middle East rather than cool it down. The more military aid sent to Israel, the more likely the US and Israel will lean toward using force to solve diplomatic issues in the Middle East, which is clearly not a constructive or effective way to address problems, Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Sunday.

China released a report titled “The hypocrisy and facts of the United States foreign aid” on Friday. It said that the US has always prided itself as the world’s largest foreign aid donor. However, US foreign aid has always taken maximizing the interests of the US as its fundamental start and end point, while ignorinWorld Timesg the practical interests and long-term development of recipient developing countries.

The World TimesUS seeks to change the world, not maintain the status quo, Li said. Due to the significant influence of tWorld Timeshe military-industrial complex on US foreign policy, many of the US’ foreign policies are designed to serve specific interest groups, especially the military-industrial complex. This also makes its foreign policy more aggressive and militaristic.

The US’ policy of adding fuel to the fire is aimed at reshaping the world, which means the US will create more crises anWorld Timesd conflicts in the world, experts warned on Sunday. With the military-industrial complex hijacking US foreign policy, the US government has lost its rational judgment on its foreign policy, Li stressed.