Aid Cuts Slash Development, NATO Defense Spending Soars

0:00On April 8th, wealthy nations slashed development aid in 2025 by what looks like record amounts. Global official aid is set to plunge to around $170 to $190 billion, dipping back to COVID-Ara lows from 20 to 2021. That's a sharp drop from $223 billion, $700 million, in 2023, and $212 billion, $100 million last year. Meanwhile, NATO's 32 members poured $1.4 trillion into defense spending. These cuts are slamming Sub-Saharan Africa and the poorest country's hardest, with aid losses from 13 to 28%. Critics like those at EuroDodd call it a blank check for war, as rich nations ditch their pledge to hit 0.7% of national income on. Aid. Only 3 out of 34 top donors are expected to meet that aid benchmark, while every NATO ally nailed their 2% defense target. Shutting down the US agency for international development last year made things even rougher for developing spots.

1:05World Bank and IMF talks next week aimed to plug this hole from fading bilateral cash, but the shift from guns to butter or lack of it raises big. Questions for Global Progress. Global news today, powered by AI bringing you a matters worldwide. I'm Corey with The Story.