The US House of Representatives has approved a giant aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, as well as a bill that threatens to ban TikTok in the country.
Here's what's included in the $95 billion package that now goes to the Senate, where it's likely to be considered as early as April 23.
Ukraine
Most of the funds in the package, nearly 61 billion dollars, are intended for Ukraine's military efforts against Russian aggression. President Volodymyr Zelensky has been calling for the money for months, warning that "if Congress doesn't help Ukraine, it will lose the war."
Washington is Kiev's main military backer, but Congress had not passed a major aid package for its ally since December 2022 due to partisan bickering and a delay by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson.
The passed bill would provide nearly $14 billion for training, equipping and funding the needs of the Ukrainian military.
Ukraine will also receive $10 billion in "forgivable loans" for vital economic and budgetary support, including for the energy and infrastructure sectors.
The idea of a loan, not a grant, was given by former President Donald Trump, who believes the United States should stop "handing out money with no return." A "forgivable loan" can be partially or fully forgiven or rescheduled under certain conditions.
Much of that money will also go toward replenishing US military stockpiles.
The bill also authorizes the US president to seize and sell Russian assets to finance the reconstruction of Ukraine, an idea that is gaining traction among other G7 countries as well.
Israel
Historical ally of the United States, Israel will receive $13 billion in military aid in its fight against the terrorist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
These funds will be used in particular to strengthen Israel's Iron Dome air defense system.
More than $9 billion will be spent to meet "the acute need for humanitarian aid in Gaza, as well as other vulnerable populations around the world."
However, the measure would ban any direct US funding to the crisis-hit United Nations Refugee Agency (UNRWA). Israel has accused some of the agency's staff in Gaza of involvement in the shocking Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7 that sparked the war.
Taiwan, TikTok
The bill would provide about $8 billion to counter China by investing in underwater infrastructure and increasing competition with Chinese projects in developing countries.
The bill also earmarks several billion dollars in arms funding for Taiwan, a self-governing island claimed by China.
Another bill passed on April 20 would force TikTok to split from its Chinese parent company ByteDance or face a total ban in the United States.
US officials have expressed alarm at TikTok's popularity among young people, alleging that it is beholden to Beijing and a conduit for spreading propaganda - claims that Chinese authorities and the company deny. /BGNES, AFP
