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News · 20 March 2026

UK Slashes Foreign Aid to Fund Defence Spending

UK Slashes Foreign Aid to Fund Defence Spending

Chris McAndrew via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)

Poorest nations and those in crisis will receive less help due to Britain's reduced foreign aid spending. This may also lessen the country's influence. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper explained Thursday how the government plans to use its smaller budget, focusing on countries affected by conflicts. Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced these reductions in February 2025. The savings from these changes will instead be used for defence.

Reported by Bloomberg · How we write briefs

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