How much military aid does the U.S. provide to different countries? Stacker analyzed U.S. military spending data from 2011 to 2020 using foreign assistance.gov to find where U.S. military aid is being sent.For more galleries visit Stacker .(Jody Ellis, Stacker.com)
Where US military aid is being spent, ranked
Where US military aid is being spent, ranked | The United States spent $47.2 billion in foreign aid in 2019, down from $52.5 billion in 2016. Around 30% of U.S. foreign aid is classified as military, with other funds going to economic development, education, and humanitarian assistance. Foreign aid in total generally represents less than 1% of the U.S. federal budget. Keep reading to discover which countries around the world receive the most military aid from the U.S., and how those numbers break down. (yiannisscheidt/Shutterstock)
25. Kenya
25. Kenya | Total spending: $18.5 million | The United States established diplomatic relations with Kenya in 1964, after the country declared independence from the United Kingdom. That relationship has grown exponentially over the years, with the U.S. providing substantial military aid directed toward combating terrorism, strengthening border security, and improving the country’s overall peacekeeping abilities. (Authentic travel/Shutterstock)
24. Cyprus
24. Cyprus | Yearly spending: $18.7 million | #1. Peace and Security ($16.0 million; 85.6%) – #2. Conflict Mitigation and Reconciliation ($2.7 million; 14.4%) – Indicators: –Political stability (percentile): 63.33% — Government effectiveness (-2.5 to 2.5): 0.99 — Control of corruption (-2.5 to 2.5): 0.6 Diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cyprus were established in 1960. When Turkey invaded Cyprus in the 1970s, the U.S. began providing military aid to Cypriot residents displaced by the invasion. The American government continues to support Cyprus, signing an intent of bilateral security cooperation in 2018 and promoting peace and security as well as economic development and counterterrorism efforts. Credit: kirill_makarov // Shutterstock
23. Libya
23. Libya | Yearly spending: $19.8 million | After the 2011 uprising that displaced ruler Muammar al Qadhafi, Libya’s interim leadership was unable to stabilize the country, and the U.S. stepped in to help. Military aid to Libya focuses on security and humanitarian issues as well as helping in managing and promoting fair elections, efforts which are all coordinated with the United Nations Support Mission in Libya. (Hussein EddebShutterstock)
22. Haiti
22. Haiti | Yearly spending: $20.6 million | The U.S. military’s long and involved relationship with Haiti goes back as far as the early 1900s when President Woodrow Wilson sent troops in to restore order after several Haitian presidents were assassinated. In addition to ongoing military aid, Haiti has received substantial humanitarian assistance, especially after an earthquake in 2010 left the country economically devastated. The United States, as Haiti’s largest trading partner, has a vested interest in the country’s success, with numerous U.S. firms calling the island nation home. (Sylvie Corriveau/Shutterstock)
21. Philippines
21. Philippines | Yearly spending: $21.0 million | In 1947, the U.S. and the Philippines signed a military bases agreement, in which the United States was given a 99-year lease on several military bases. That agreement was dissolved in the 1960s; by 1992 U.S. troops had withdrawn from the nation. The countries maintain a strong relationship, with the U.S. providing millions in military aid each year and an active agreement that allows American forces to train with Filipino troops. President Rodrigo Duterte recently demanded an increase in U.S. military assistance, pushing up against a U.S. bill that would block funding to the country due to civil rights abuses. (Jon Bilous/Shutterstock)
20. Kazakhstan
20. Kazakhstan | Yearly spending: $21.3 million | The United States was the first country to recognize Kazakhstan as an independent nation following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. The two countries have since developed a strong bilateral relationship, with the U.S. giving Kazakhstan more than $275 million under its Cooperative Threat Reduction program, which is geared toward eliminating weapons of mass destruction and providing funds for military exercises and security. (Jane Peimer/Shutterstock)
