European governments are cutting development aid to focus on defense : Shared by Niloufar Pourzand

Sweden and Germany slash aid budgets to focus on Ukraine and defence spending

Kaamil Ahmed, 

The Guardian, December 21, 2025

Click here for the article

European countries are significantly reducing development aid to focus on Ukraine and defense spending, marking a shift away from traditional humanitarian commitments. 

Sweden announced a 10 billion kronor (£800 million) cut in development funding to Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Liberia, Tanzania and Bolivia. 

Germany's 2026 humanitarian budget of €1.05 billion (£920 million) will be less than half of last year's, with a 20% cut to the World Food Programme and 33% reduction for the Gavi vaccine alliance. 

The UK is cutting aid to fund defense spending, while France's 2026 budget includes a €700 million aid cut with a 60% reduction in food aid. 

Analysts warn that aid is becoming more "transactional" and geopolitically driven rather than focused on poverty reduction. 

Countries most affected include Mozambique, which received only $31 million of $222 million required funding this year, leading to food distribution every two months covering just 39% of caloric needs. The cuts will directly impact HIV/AIDS services in affected African nations, with experts warning of reversals in years of progress.

"I think we are losing a consensus of solidarity and responsibility which has been established for a while now." - Ralf Südhoff, director, Centre for Humanitarian Action

"It's a broader geopolitical trend and there's a misleading belief by European actors that they have to play this game now in the same way as Moscow, Beijing, Washington." - Ralf Südhoff

"Budgets are being reshaped under political pressure, and the communities who bear the consequences have no way to shape those decisions." - Anita Kattakuzhy, director of policy, Near

"Every cut compounds the risk of long-term developmental setbacks, particularly in education and child protection. If current trends continue, 2026 will be extremely challenging... there is a real risk that progress made over the past decade could be reversed." - Ilaria Manunza, country director, Save the Children Mozambique