US 2021 budget offers $700 mln to counter Russian influence, strengthen allies

Georgia has received $4,348,400,000 in financial aid from the United States between 1992 and 2020. Photo: US embassy, Tbilisi.

Agenda.ge, 11 Feb 2020 - 12:02, Tbilisi,Georgia

US President Donald Trump has proposed a $4.8 trillion budget for the 2021 fiscal year, which offers $700 million in aid for the US allies in Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia to counter Russian influence. 

Now it is up to the Congress to decide. 

The budget provides $0.7 billion for assistance to Europe, Eurasia, and Central Asia to advance shared security; safeguard the territorial integrity of U.S. allies; support partner countries’ efforts to transition away from Russian military equipment; and address weaknesses in the macro-economic environment that the government of Russia seeks to exploit, such as dependence on energy and trade,” the budget draft reads. 

 The budget also provides $24 million for the Global Engagement Center to counter Russian propaganda and disinformation.