The U.S. Senate has approved a record $858 billion defense budget for next year, which includes funds for military assistance to Ukraine. Reuters reported it.
The defense budget includes 45 billion more than initially proposed by President Joe Biden. The budget provides for an increase in wages for the U.S. military, funding for the purchase of weapons, support for Taiwan, which China threatens, and 800 million in military aid for Ukraine to repel Russian aggression.
The budget includes planned military assistance to allied countries, such as $10 billion to Taiwan through 2027 and $800 million in security aid for Ukraine.
The bill allocates $6 billion for the European Deterrence Initiative, a program created in 2014 after Russia’s annexation of Crimea to boost the readiness of U.S. forces in Europe to deter further war aggression.
The overwhelming majority of votes 83 adopted the draft to 11. It was not supported only by some liberal senators and “fiscal conservatives” who demanded even greater control over spending.
The House of Representatives – the lower house of Congress – approved the defense budget on December 8. Now the draft goes to U.S. President Joe Biden for signature.
