$95bln military package for 'Israel', Ukraine, Taiwan passed by Senate

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
13 Feb 2024 20:04
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With a vote of 70 to 29, the US Senate approves the package, as division among GOP regarding primary concerns becomes deeper.

The US Capitol photographed on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP)

The US Senate granted final authorization to a $95 billion wartime "assistance" package for Ukraine, "Israel", and Taiwan in the early hours of Tuesday. The bill is now set to head to the Republican-held House, where its future remains uncertain.

During a vote held before dawn, the Senate overwhelmingly passed the measure with a vote of 70 to 29, surpassing the required 60-vote threshold required for most legislation to pass in the chamber.

A majority of Democrats, along with 22 Republicans, supported the bill, highlighting significant divides within the GOP regarding America's obligations toward its allies and its global role.

The package encompasses $60 billion designated for Ukraine, where military resources are quickly depleting. A substantial portion of these funds is intended to bolster Ukraine's military capabilities and replenish US weaponry and equipment deployed to the frontline.

Additionally, $14 billion has been allocated to support "Israel" and the US in carrying out military activities across the Middle East.

Furthermore, over $8 billion was earmarked for bolstering US partners in the Indo-Pacific, particularly Taiwan, as a means of deterring an alleged potential Chinese aggression.

Significantly, the bill also allotted nearly $10bln for "humanitarian efforts" in Ukraine, "Israel", and Gaza, where nearly a quarter of residents are starving and large swaths of the territory have been ravaged.

Democrats threaten, Republicans voice concern

For months, President Joe Biden has been urging Congress to expedite aid to Ukraine, where military officials have raised concerns about ammunition shortages amid intensifying battles with Russia.

Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, celebrated the approval of the aid package as a strong signal to both allies and adversaries that "American leadership will not waver, will not falter, will not fail," adding, "Today, we make Vladimir Putin regret the day he questioned America’s resolve."

Schumer also noted that the US through this bill intended to "make clear to others like China’s President Xi not to test our determination."

On the other hand, in a statement late Monday night, US House Speaker Mike Johnson indicated that the Republican-led chamber would not take up a bill likely to pass the Senate this week, which would provide billions in additional aid to Ukraine and "Israel".

Johnson argued that while the bill aided strategic US allies, it did not include changes to US immigration policy after a previous Senate text that encompassed both the border and foreign aid was killed by members of Johnson's party in the upper chamber.

"House Republicans were crystal clear from the very beginning of discussions that any so-called national security supplemental legislation must recognize that national security begins at our own border," Johnson said in a statement.