Trump weighs conditioning foreign aid on religious freedom

[Eugene]

Source: Politico

Trump weighs conditioning foreign aid on religious freedom

The proposed change in U.S. policy could complicate relations with countries like Egypt and India.

Aides to President Donald Trump are drafting plans to condition U.S. aid to other countries on how well they treat their religious minorities, two White House officials said.

The proposal is expected to cover U.S. humanitarian and development assistance and could also be broadened to include American military aid to other countries. If the proposal becomes reality, it could have a major effect on U.S. assistance in a range of places, from Iraq to Vietnam. Its mere consideration shows how much the White House prioritizes religious freedom, an emphasis critics say is really about galvanizing Trump’s evangelical Christian base.

But experts on U.S. aid also warn that picking and choosing which countries to punish could be a difficult task, not least because several countries that are partners or allies of the United States have terrible religious freedom records.

The effort comes as Trump faces an impeachment inquiry that hinges in part on whether he froze military aid to Ukraine as a way to pressure its government to investigate his political rivals.

Two White House officials confirmed the basics of the religious freedom aid-conditioning plan. They stressed that the idea is in its early stages and an executive order is still being drafted, meaning questions about, say, whether military aid will be covered remain unanswered.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/11/trump-weighs-foreign-aid-religious-freedom-069595

[TheRealNorth]

1. What about the Eastern European countries like Hungary

That have a shit record of treating Jews, Gypsies, Muslims, and every non-christian like a second-class citizen? My guess is Trump is okay with that.

[bitterross]

3. I'm sure you are correct.

There are religions and then there is Christianity. They are thinkin of only Christianity. Though they'll lie and say they mean all religions.

[guillaumeb]

2. And what about China as well? eom

[edhopper]

7. we don't send aid to China.

[guillaumeb]

9. No, but foreign trade with CHina is enormous.

[edhopper]

10. so you want to end trade over religious persecution?

Then no trade with Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan, Bahrain.....

[guillaumeb]

11. Which is why such conditions should generally not be imposed. eom

[Act_of_Reparation]

12. It's a difficult question.

On one hand, I'm fine using our buying power to pressure regimes into not being dicks. On the other, most of these countries are poor already, and an embargo is not likely to shift their opinions on anything.

[edhopper]

13. I was'nt advocating this

I was making the distinction between foriegn aid and trade.

[Act_of_Reparation]

14. I know.

I just thought it was worth exploring even as a hypothetical.

[edhopper]

15. Yes

that is a thought. Though I would rather boycott a despot like saudi Arabia than a poor country.

[Act_of_Reparation]

16. The thing about those boycotts...

...is the cost is typically passed onto the poor. The people in charge rarely suffer, e.g., Kim Jong Un.

[edhopper]

17. true

[no_hypocrisy]

4. Israel is an apartheid state based on religion.

[exboyfil]

6. That was my first thought

[keithbvadu2]

5. It depends on whose religious freedom is preferable.

It depends on whose religious freedom is preferable.

[edhopper]

8. How about how Trump treats Muslims?

should the US be denied aid?