Providing military assistance to the allies is not in vain, but the debt was proposed by US President Donald Trump to Congress. If legislators approve the idea, a number of countries, including Ukraine, will lose gratuitous arms supplies.

The commercial vein of President Trump is making itself felt. In the draft budget submitted by the White House team to Congress, an idea was put forward, as well as saving money, and allies should not be left without help. Instead of gratuitous deliveries of military equipment, it is proposed to give targeted credits for the purchase of US-made weapons. According to the Wall Street Journal source, Washington can turn gifts into debts for Pakistan, Tunisia, Lebanon, Colombia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Ukraine.

Every year, free military assistance to the allies costs the US $ 6 billion. Of which $ 3.1 billion goes to Israel, $ 1.3 billion to Egypt and $ 350 million to Jordan. These items are not yet touched by the White House. But the rest of the expenses the presidential administration considers unjustified. In aid as such, no one refuses, say, if you need a weapon - take it, but you will have to pay for it in full, albeit not immediately.

Actually, the benefit for the United States is obvious - and the treasury is more secure, and the US military industry in case. However, opponents of Trump in Congress have already expressed their disagreement. In particular, the Wall Street Journal interlocutor noted that changing US approaches to allocating military assistance to other countries could lead to the strengthening of regional positions of Russia and China. And in the case of Ukraine, for example, there may be a "decline in the ability to fight pro-Russian separatists".

In the US budget for the current financial year, approved by Barack Obama, it is planned to allocate $ 150 million to Kiev, including training of servicemen, delivery of lethal weapons and military equipment. Until now, it was limited to the provision of army instructors, military equipment and ammunition.

The new American administration has more than once pointed to the need to reduce the financial obligations of the United States to the allies, shifting, if necessary, some of them to the shoulders of other countries and organizations, in particular NATO.