The Senate has approved $95 billion in military aid to Ukraine, Israel, and allies in the Pacific region with the support of 18 Senate Republicans and Democrats. This action highlights a division within the contemporary Republican Party involving foreign policy issues. The group of 18 senators, including national security hawks and military veterans, provided votes to overcome filibusters backed by a majority of their colleagues, paving the way for the approval of the aid. The backing of the funding could draw criticism from former President Donald J. Trump and his allies, leading some Republicans to oppose it.
The group of senators who supported the military aid includes top Senate Republicans such as Mitch McConnell and John Thune, as well as Senators Joni Ernst and Shelley Moore Capito. This sharp division within the Republican Party mirrors a broader split within the party, where some members support exerting American power overseas and standing by U.S. allies, while others, encouraged by Trump, support withdrawing from foreign involvement. Despite opposition from some Republicans, the bill has also received the support of some key Republicans on committees handling national security and appropriations.
The “thread that binds” the group of 18 senators together is national security, with their belief that supporting Ukraine, Israel, and the South Pacific is crucial for America’s national security. The move to approve the military aid demonstrates a willingness among these Republicans to prioritize national security and foreign policy over potential backlash, showing a sense of urgency in restraining Russia and avoiding a wider war in Europe or Asia.
