Global Geopolitical Series: Europe plans to increase foreign aid amid U.S. squeeze

Europe is planning to try and fill in the shoes of Washington by increasing its foreign aid budget, while the Trump administration plans to reduce aids, making it reciprocal to favors to Uncle Sam. Late last month, U.S. State Department published a report on U.N. voting and the U.S. ambassador to U.N., Nikkei Haley clearly signaled that Washington is planning to take action based on the report by finding friends and foes in international politics. Now, Europe is trying to fill the gap by increasing its own contribution to foreign aid.

Last year, when the United States announced that it would reduce payments to United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) by more than $62 million, the European Union stepped in with a special aid of €42.5 million.

Now, according to reports, as the European Commission sets out its common budget proposal on Wednesday, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini is set to propose a single fund responsible for managing most of the 123 billion euros ($148 billion) planned for the 2021-2027 period, which is almost 30 percent higher than the previous amount of €95 billion for the 2014-2020 period.