The suspension of nearly all USAID funding by the Trump administration is shuttering vital humanitarian and anti-gang programs in Colombia’s poorest regions, jeopardizing the implementation of the country’s 2016 peace deal with leftist FARC rebels.
Historically, Colombia received up to $440 million annually through USAID for over 80 programs, making it the largest recipient of U.S. aid in the western hemisphere. Now, the abrupt funding cuts are endangering reintegration initiatives for former rebels, economic projects aimed at employing ex-combatants, and various social programs that have helped curb violence and drug trafficking in conflict-prone areas.
Officials, including Colombia’s former foreign minister and lawmakers, warn that the loss of aid will increase risks of renewed violence, as vulnerable communities may be lured back into criminal gangs and drug trafficking networks. In Choco province, for example, the shutdown of the USAID-funded Youth Resilience program has left thousands of young people without essential mentorship and economic opportunities, potentially reversing progress made under the 2016 peace accord.
The freeze also undermines broader peace efforts, particularly in rural regions where USAID programs played a crucial role in reducing violence and facilitating dialogue between former rebels and the government. With significant portions
Hundreds of U.S. diplomats have formally protested the dismantling of USAID and the freeze on foreign aid, warning it undermines U.S. global leadership and strengthens adversaries like China and Russia.
In a brief ruling on Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the Trump administration’s request to block a lower court’s order requiring the payment of nearly $2 billion in frozen USAID funds.
The Trump administration has announced a $60 billion reduction in global assistance, cutting over 90% of USAID contracts and reshaping U.S. foreign aid policy. The move has sparked legal challenges and raised concerns about the future of U.S. international support.
President Donald Trump’s administration announced a decision to place the majority of USAID personnel on paid administrative leave, with plans to cut about 2,000 positions in the U.S., according to a notice reviewed by Reuters.
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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday to discuss the progress made by U.S. President Donald Trump in ceasefire talks with Russia, with both leaders emphasising the importance of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
Fresh hostilities erupted in the Russia-Ukraine conflict on Wednesday, with reported air strikes causing infrastructure damage and evacuations despite a recently agreed partial ceasefire.
Putin has paused energy facility strikes, but a full ceasefire remains elusive. The move signals ongoing tensions, with discussions about a wider peace deal set to begin, leaving questions about Ukraine’s role in the negotiations.
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NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams completed an unexpectedly long 286-day mission on the ISS, returning to Earth aboard a SpaceX capsule after delays caused by technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday to discuss the progress made by U.S. President Donald Trump in ceasefire talks with Russia, with both leaders emphasising the importance of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
Fresh hostilities erupted in the Russia-Ukraine conflict on Wednesday, with reported air strikes causing infrastructure damage and evacuations despite a recently agreed partial ceasefire.
Putin has paused energy facility strikes, but a full ceasefire remains elusive. The move signals ongoing tensions, with discussions about a wider peace deal set to begin, leaving questions about Ukraine’s role in the negotiations.
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