In January 2025, there was an unexpected stop of programs for the removal and destruction of weapons funded by the US Government. This was an extension of a number of sharp changes in weapons related to Donald Trump's accession to Presidential in 2017. The stop was the result of the President's decree on reassessment and reorganization of foreign aid, which caused considerable concern among humanitarian humanitarian organizations.
The US Department of State Department, which funds international mine programs, sent an email to the organizations to stop operations for cleaning from explosive ammunition. The instruction to stop the activity is based on a new strategy that is focused on maximizing the US national interests. This happened after Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the termination of foreign aid was an important step in ensuring the security and prosperity of the United States. However, this step has become the subject of disputes, in particular because of its impact on global humanitarian safety, in particular in the context of lands contaminated with mines after conflict. One of the important aspects of the demining program is the restoration of agricultural land in the affected regions, such as Ukraine, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. This helps to ensure food safety and promotes stability in countries suffering from the effects of war and conflict. The ammunition destruction program also helps to return refugees and internally displaced persons to their homes. In Ukraine, where the war with Russia has left vast areas covered with mines and explosive ammunition, this program is of particular importance. The State Department's reports emphasize that land purification from mines is a prerequisite for the restoration of agriculture and the revival of the country's economy.
Changing the approach to US International Arms Policy is part of a broader trend that began with Trump's administration. One of the key points is the abolition of cassette bombs that operated in the United States by 2020. The Trump government then allowed the use of cassette weapons in some cases, including the transfer of outdated ATACMS missiles with cassette warheads in Ukraine. Biden's administration, in turn, also changed the course of use of unstable anti -personnel mines in 2024, which provoked new disputes. The consequences of a demining programs for humanities remain unclear. Many countries and organizations supported the demining program, and cessation of assistance can seriously complicate the restoration of affected areas and adversely affect food safety in the world. The reports also state that the United States, despite changes in politics, remains the main donor of international efforts to destroy ammunition. Since 1993, they have provided more than $ 5.1 billion to help more than 125 countries in demining and destroying explosive materials.
Stopping of programs for mine clearance and removal of ammunition is part of a broader political transformation in the United States, which includes a change in the approach to foreign care and foreign policy as a whole. This can have serious consequences for humanitarian initiatives, in particular in countries affected by war, where demining is vital for restoration and stability.
