United States military aid explained

See main article: United States foreign aid.

The United States government first recognized the usefulness of foreign aid as a tool of diplomacy in World War II. It was believed that it would promote liberal capitalist models of development in other countries and that it would enhance national security.^[1]

The United States is the largest contributor of military aid to foreign countries in the world, with its Department of Defense providing funding and/or American military hardware aid to over 150 countries annually for defense purposes.

Military funding programs

There are three main programs where military funding is allocated:

Foreign Military Financing (FMF) provides grants for the acquisition of U.S. defense equipment, services, and training. These grants enable friends and allies to improve their defense capabilities.^[2] ^[3] ^[4] ^[5] FMF is allowed under the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), which as amended [22 U.S.C. 2751, et. seq.], authorizes the President to finance procurement of defense articles and services for foreign countries and international organizations.^[6] The goals of FMF are:^[7] ^[8] ^[9]

Promoting national security by contributing to regional and global stability

Strengthening military support for democratically elected governments and containing transnational threats, including terrorism and trafficking in narcotics, weapons, and persons

Fostering closer military relationships between the U.S. and recipient nations

Peacekeeping Operations (PKO) provide voluntary support for international peacekeeping activities. These funds support non-U.N. operations and training in response to a nation’s crisis.^[10] The goals of PKO are:

Promoting increased involvement of regional organizations in conflict resolution

Helping leverage support for multinational efforts in the event of a nation's crisis

The International Military Education and Training program (IMET) offers military training on a grant basis to foreign military officials.^[11] The goals of IMET are:

Encouraging effective defense relationships

Promoting interoperability with U.S. and coalition forces

Exposing foreign civilian and military officials to democratic values, military professionalism, and international norms of human rights

Some examples of this would include the United States' efforts in Colombia and South Korea. Military aid has been successful in stopping insurgency, providing stability, and ending conflicts within the region. In South Korea, US military aid has been beneficial for the maintenance of national security, economic and social development, and civilization as a whole.^[12]

In many other cases, military aid has laid the groundwork for other forms of aid. This aid includes building schools to promote education, providing clean drinking water, and further stabilizing food production. Without military aid, this development would have been impossible.

Criticisms

Particular targets of criticism include

Funds appropriated to the State Department and Defense Department represent the vast majority of unclassified military aid and assistance.^[13]
The United States gives the same amount of money to its top five aid recipients as they give to the rest of the world.^[14]
Generally, increasing levels of US military aid significantly reduces cooperative foreign policy behavior with the United States.^[15]

Table

The following table shows which countries does the United States provide military aid and/or assistance, per USAID.^[16]

Countries by U.S. Military Aid
Country/Region	style=width:6em	2022!	style=width:6em	2023
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Angola
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bhutan

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic

Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic

Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Estonia

Ethiopia
Fiji
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hungary
India
Indonesia

Iraq
Israel

Jamaica
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya

Kyrgyzstan

Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Lithuania
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico

Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria


Oman
Pakistan
Palau

Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Romania

Rwanda
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa

Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname


Tajikistan

Thailand
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Uganda
Ukraine
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu


Western Sahara
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe