U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will seek repayment from European countries for military aid and ammunition the United States previously provided to Ukraine, adding a new dimension to his administration’s increasingly transactional approach to foreign assistance.
The move comes as some African governments have already resisted U.S. health-aid agreements that Washington has linked to its strategic and commercial interests.
In a statement published by Reuters, Trump said Europe should have paid for the U.S. military support provided to Ukraine during the war with Russia.
The president also added that “hundreds of billions of dollars was given to Ukraine and NATO, free of charge, that Europe would have paid for” and said Washington would now seek the money back.
Reuters also reported that Trump also signaled that the U.S. would prioritize rebuilding its own ammunition stockpiles before resuming military sales to allies.
