Since World War II, Congress has appropriated hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars in aid abroad, whether in the form of arms, unrestricted financial transfers, or humanitarian aid.
US interventionism played a key role in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, leading to the collapse of the Soviet Union under former President Ronald Reagan and a war in the Middle East under former President George W. Bush; both presidents served as Republicans.
From unequivocally supporting our allies worldwide to considering the halting of all military and economic aid to Ukraine, the Republican Party has drastically altered its foreign policy ideology.
Per a January report from the Congressional Research Service, the US has designated approximately $175 billion for Ukraine since Russia invaded in early 2022. The Kiel Institute for the World Economy estimates that approximately 70% of the appropriated funds have reached the war-torn nation; the European Union has provided Ukraine with similar aid.
One of the critiques of such funding addresses a fundamental issue: why should we finance a war in a faraway land when our citizens are struggling?
Millions of US citizens live in poverty, and that money could have gone a long way in improving our schooling system or strengthening safety net programs like Social Security and Medicare.
Another potential critique I share is that more indirect forms of involvement often lead to US boots on the group.
Before the US officially entered World War 2, we sent substantial military aid to Britain and other allied countries through the Lend-Lease Act; in 2022, President Joe Biden signed a bill with similar language regarding aid to Ukraine. Many are becoming increasingly worried that the US could get dragged into a war it does not want to enter.
After initially pausing military aid and intelligence to Ukraine in early March, the Trump Administration has restored such, but Congress is not going to pass any more aid packages using taxpayer dollars anytime soon.
Over 40% of the aid that has reached Ukraine is not necessarily focused on the war itself – tens of billions of dollars are dedicated to resettling refugees throughout Europe, providing humanitarian aid, and granting significant financial assistance to war-torn parts of the country.
Ukraine is also a sovereign state, and as one of the world’s most powerful democracies, I believe that the US must provide protection to countries fighting against an oppressive force.
The European Parliament recognizes Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism, and by aiding Ukraine, the United States is weakening both Russian influence and a key financier of terrorism worldwide.
We cannot ignore that, in many ways, the US has a duty to its allies and other sovereign nations trying to protect their country.
I suspect that a majority of Americans support efforts utilizing their taxpayer dollars when they are directed toward humanitarian causes, such as resettling refugees and providing loans to assist a country’s rebuilding efforts.
Negative consequences can arise, such as a full-scale war, but that does not look likely at this juncture.
However, if we abandon and openly disrespect countries fighting for true independence under the ideological guise of isolationism, that might just make us hypocrites.
