Sweden cuts development aid to five countries and sends the money to Kiev. “Ukraine is the most important priority”
Benjamin Dousa, Swedish Minister of International Development Cooperation Photo: AA/ABACA / Abaca Press / Profimedia
Sweden will end development aid for five countries in the coming years and will use the funds thus released to increase aid to Ukraine, the government indicated on Friday, reports Reuters, taken by Agerpres.
Sweden will stop aid to Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Mozambique, Liberia and Bolivia, announced the minister for international development cooperation and foreign trade, Benjamin Dousa.
“Ukraine is Sweden's top foreign policy and aid policy priority, and that is why the government will increase aid to Ukraine by at least 10 billion kroner ($1.06 billion) in 2026,” he said.
“There is no secret printing press for assistance purposes, so the money has to come from somewhere,” he added.
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According to the government, the measures will release more than 2 billion crowns in the next two years, money that can be redirected to Ukraine, for projects such as restoring the energy infrastructure.
Sweden has already cut aid to more than ten countries – including Burkina Faso and Mali – since the current government came to power in 2022.
Sweden is a major donor for development and humanitarian aid, with a budget of 56 billion kroner a year for the past three years.
The government has declared that it will reduce this budget to 53 billion crowns per year in the period 2026-2028 and will reorient priorities, including by allocating part of the money to pay the costs of immigration and repatriation of migrants.
