TRUMP DUMPS ARMY AID

US announces suspension of assistance and cooperation with SA Defence Force

- SIFISO MAHLANGU

IN A significant development that marks a further deterioration in relations between South Africa and the United States, the US has announced the suspension of military assistance and cooperation with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

A memo that is, at this point, still clandestine reveals that on 13 March, the US Department of State outlined the decision, which is in line with an executive order signed by President Donald Trump.

The directive, addressed to Aaron Harding, the Chief Financial Officer of the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DCSA), instructs that all foreign aid and military assistance to South Africa be immediately halted.

This includes the suspension of key programmes such as International Military Education and Training (IMET), Foreign Military Financing (FMF), and Foreign Military Sales (FMS).