US REDIRECTS $52M MILITARY AID TO FOUR LATIN AMERICAN NATIONS

The US State Department has told Congress it will redirect $52 million in Foreign Military Financing from Slovakia, North Macedonia, Tunisia and Iraq to Panama, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. The funds allow recipient governments to buy American defence equipment, services and training, and were notified to Congress on Tuesday. The department said the money would fund efforts against "narco-terrorism", help secure the Panama Canal, and cut the four countries' reliance on military supplies from US adversaries, adding it would "prevent adversaries from establishing strategic footholds in our hemisphere." The countries losing funds will still receive some assistance, though the amount is unclear.

The reallocation follows a visit by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Colombia, Ecuador and Peru last week to promote the Shield of the Americas coalition. Peru and Colombia joined during the visit, while Ecuador and Panama already belonged. Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella said Colombia would prioritise security cooperation, military modernisation and countering transnational crime. Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori said joining would let Peru receive intelligence more quickly and respond more forcefully to criminal organisations. President Donald Trump launched the initiative at a summit in Florida on 7 March.

The shift comes as Washington increases pressure on Cuba, which criticised the coalition when it was formed; all four are coalition members. Trump has focused on the Americas since returning to the White House in January 2025, ordering strikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats and pursuing an operation to capture former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. His administration struck an oil deal with Venezuela in August. In Europe, Trump has pushed to reduce the US role, criticising NATO allies over defence spending and threatening to withdraw American forces.