Several European countries have announced cuts to their foreign aid budgets, impacting crucial global health programs. Health organizations are concerned that reductions in funding for malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis initiatives will harm countries relying on foreign support.
The UK, France, and Belgium are among the European nations trimming their foreign aid, with the UK cutting its aid budget by 0.2% of its Gross National Income (GNI) by 2027. France has also reduced its foreign assistance by 35%, while Belgium has slashed funding by 25%. These cuts come as European countries focus more on defense spending and other domestic issues.
Global health groups are particularly concerned about the reduction in funding for initiatives like malaria prevention and HIV treatment. These programs, which received around 10% of global foreign aid in 2023, are now competing for a shrinking pool of resources.
The timing of these cuts is especially critical as the US has also reduced its foreign aid under the leadership of President Donald Trump. Global health experts fear that this combination of European and US cuts will devastate public health efforts, particularly in low-income countries.
Despite these challenges, organizations like the RBM Partnership to End Malaria are working to secure funding, although experts warn that the global health system could struggle to recover from these budget reductions.
As Europe and the US tighten their aid budgets, global health programs are facing a tough future, with essential services at risk of collapse in many parts of the world.