Discussing the use of weapons support programs for sovereign countries such as Ukraine
There is also a way to divert part of the Ministry of Defense budget… Must obtain congressional approval
Support for Ukraine was left out of the interim budget passed by Congress due to opposition from the Republican Party.

While the U.S. Congress is wrangling over arms support for Ukraine, the U.S. political media Politico reported on the 5th (local time) that the Joe Biden administration is considering providing additional support to Ukraine using the State Department subsidy program.

The White House is discussing various options to find funds to support Ukraine as the interim budget passed by the U.S. Congress excludes funds for aid to Ukraine, anonymous U.S. officials said.

The officials said one of the options the Biden administration is considering is Foreign Military Financing (FMF), a State Department program that provides subsidies or concessional loans to sovereign countries such as Ukraine hit by the Russian invasion to buy weapons. He explained that it is using ‘financing’.

According to the State Department, as of the 21st of last month, out of the $4.6 billion (about 6.2 trillion won) budget secured by the federal government through FMF, the remaining funds are $650 million (about 876.6 billion won).

U.S. officials also explained that there is a way to divert some of the Pentagon’s budget to support Ukraine. However, to divert the Department of Defense budget, approval must be obtained from the U.S. Congress.

Previously, U.S. President Joe Biden said on the 4th, “There are other means to support Ukraine.” However, President Biden did not specifically specify what other means were available.

The temporary budget plan passed by agreement between the ruling and opposition parties in the United States to prevent a federal government shutdown contained provisions to freeze the federal government budget until mid-November, and did not reflect support for Ukraine, which is opposed by many Republicans. Initially, the Biden administration requested a budget proposal from the U.S. Congress for next year that included $24 billion in aid to Ukraine. However, hardliners in the Republican Party argued that support for Ukraine should be reduced and more money should be invested in protecting the US border to prevent the flow of Central and South American immigrants.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer (New York) said on the 4th that he would work with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell (Kentucky) to come up with a large package to support Ukraine. However, Politico reported that it is unclear whether the necessary budget will be secured as hardliners within the Republican Party, which controls the House of Representatives, oppose additional aid to Ukraine.

Source: Donga