UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern on Monday after the United States, the world’s largest foreign aid donor, froze nearly all foreign assistance under President Donald Trump’s new administration.

In an internal memo released Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the suspension of aid, with exceptions only for emergency food supplies and military funding for Israel and Egypt.

Trump, who took office last week after pledging to prioritize “America first” policies, aimed to limit foreign aid significantly.

Guterres expressed worry about the aid freeze, stating that humanitarian and development assistance is critical for “the most vulnerable communities around the world, whose lives depend on this support.”

He called for additional exemptions to ensure essential support for development and humanitarian efforts continues. However, he also sought to maintain a positive tone in US relations, expressing eagerness to engage with the new administration on the matter.

The US aid freeze impacted a wide range of assistance, from development aid to military support, including to Ukraine, which has been receiving significant US assistance in its defense against Russia’s invasion. The freeze also halted funding for PEPFAR, the US initiative providing anti-retroviral drugs for HIV/AIDS treatment, particularly in Africa.

While the US has long used foreign aid as a foreign policy tool, contrasting its development aid approach with China’s resource-focused strategy, the memo maintained exceptions for military assistance to Israel and Egypt, as well as emergency food aid to countries in crisis, including Sudan and Syria.

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