MESOP NEWS TODAY’S TOP OF THE AGENDA: US DECISION MIDDLE EAST / CONGRESS – SENATE
| Trump Budget Proposes 10 Percent Cut to MENA Aid: The Trump administration’s budget request for fiscal year 2018 proposes approximately $730 million in cuts to bilateral assistance to Middle Eastern countries in comparison to the Obama administration’s FY17 request. It requests $6.6 billion for the Middle East and North Africa, with much of the reduction coming from cuts to security assistance. The budget also proposes replacing foreign military financing (FMF) grants with a loan program for all countries except Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Pakistan. Both Democrats and Republicans in the Senate voiced concerns about cutting overall international affairs spending by 31.7 percent, with Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) stating that he “foresaw a lot of Benghazis in the making” if the budget were to be adopted.
pomed.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8a185f96ecfeb10569f5120d0&id=9134e3af1f&e=20c9bcbf4c Senate, House Seek to Block Portion of Saudi Arms Sale: On Thursday, May 25, bipartisan groups in both chambers of Congress introduced resolutions indicating opposition to a portion of the recent $110 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia. The identical resolutions aim to indicate “the disapproval of the proposed export to the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of certain defense articles,” namely precision-guided munitions. The Senate bill was sponsored by Chris Murphy (D-CT), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Al Franken (D-NY), while the House bill was led by Justin Amash (D-MA) and Mark Pocan (D-WI). Supporters of the resolutions have voiced concerns over the Saudi-led coalition’s record of civilian casualties and blocking of vital points of entry for humanitarian aid in Yemen. Read all |