The US Congress late on Tuesday gave final approval to a US$95 billion aid package for Taiwan, Ukraine and Israel, with US President Joe Biden quickly vowing to sign the long-delayed bill and begin delivering fresh supplies this week to Ukraine.
The bill includes US$8 billion in military support for Taiwan, in addition to US$61 billion for Ukraine, US$13 billion for Israel and more than US$9 billion for humanitarian assistance in Gaza and elsewhere.
Of the US$8 billion, more than US$3.3 billion would go toward submarine infrastructure and development, with an additional US$1.9 billion to replenish US weapons provided to Taiwan and other Asia-Pacific allies.
Photo: AP
The package of legislation also contains text that would ban TikTok in the US if the popular social media app does not soon cut ties with its Chinese parent company.
Days after the Republican-led US House of Representatives cleared the aid, the Democratic-controlled Senate followed suit, passing it with bipartisan support on a 79-18 vote.
"I will sign this bill into law and address the American people as soon as it reaches my desk tomorrow so we can begin sending weapons and equipment to Ukraine this week," Biden said in a statement shortly after the vote.
Passage of the bill, which also provides much-needed humanitarian assistance to Gaza, Sudan and Haiti, comes after months of acrimonious debate among lawmakers over how or even whether to help Ukraine defend itself.
A similar aid package passed the Senate in February, but had been stalled in the House while Republican Speaker Mike Johnson — heeding calls from former US president Donald Trump and his hardline allies — demanded concessions from Biden on immigration policies, before a sudden recent reversal.
Biden said the bill's approval showed the US stands "resolutely for democracy and freedom, and against tyranny and oppression.”
The Ukraine measure also allows Biden to confiscate and sell Russian assets and provide the money to Kyiv to finance reconstruction, a move that has been embraced by other G7 nations.
A Pentagon spokesperson told reporters on Tuesday it could deliver fresh aid to Ukraine "within days."
Additional reporting by AP
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