The United States has started the process of reducing aid in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras

US President Donald Trump has ordered his government to begin the process of removing all aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, he said Saturday. EFE a spokesman for the state department.

The decision was made Friday night after Trump blamed the three North American Central Triangle countries for "doing nothing" for the Americans and allowing the formation of migrant caravans to reach the United States. United.

The above-mentioned spokesperson explained that, On Trump's order, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo informed Congress of his decision, which has the last word in the budget.

"On the instructions of the secretary (Pompeo), we comply with the orders of the president and put an end to the overseas badistance programs for the countries of the North Triangle of the fiscal years 2017 and 2018. We will have talks with Congress as part of this process"explained the source.

The spokesman did not specify the amount of funds affected by Trump's decision, but simply said that it would affect the funds approved by the Congress for Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador during the fiscal years 2017 (between 1 October 2016). and September 30, 2017) and the 2018 fiscal year.

Some of this money has not yet been fully spent on projects for which it was intended, from police cooperation plans in the fight against gangs to humanitarian aid projects and initiatives to strengthen democracy. .

Specifically, according to the latest State Department data, the United States has approved in 2011 120 million dollars for Guatemala, 80 million dollars for Honduras and 58 million dollars for El Salvador.

Meanwhile, in 2017, the United States allocated $ 140 million to Guatemala, 95 million to Honduras and 73 million to El Salvador.

The ability of the president to decide on foreign aid is limited because it is the Congress that has jurisdiction over the budget.

In fact, the president can only transfer 10% of the money already approved for these three countries to other projects and can in no way stop the payment of the aid already allocated to projects. , according to the independent Washington office. for Latin America (WOLA).

Trump's decision will surely provoke criticism from congressional Democrats and Republicans who, for years, have been advocating the need to provide aid to these Central American countries to combat violence and the lack of justice. opportunities that migration offers in the United States.