The United States has significantly reduced foreign aid aimed at promoting democracy in Nicaragua, Cuba, and Venezuela, canceling most initiatives that supported political prisoners and opposition groups. The International Republican Institute has been heavily affected, with funding cuts jeopardizing its future and leading to layoffs of staff involved in democracy promotion. This policy shift occurs amid increasing political repression in Nicaragua, particularly against the Catholic Church.
The United States has notably reduced its foreign aid initiatives in Nicaragua, Cuba, and Venezuela, countries identified as governed by authoritarian regimes. This decision resulted in the discontinuation of funding for programs that supported political prisoners, opposition activists, and religious entities. According to a March 6 translation by Havana Times, the State Department classified these initiatives as not aligning with the “national interest.”
As a consequence of this announcement, the International Republican Institute (IRI) saw the cancellation of 92 out of 95 programs it previously operated in the region. The three remaining programs, which specifically address issues in Venezuela, have been paused in light of President Donald Trump’s executive order that suspended foreign aid funding for a duration of 90 days.
Due to these funding cuts, the future of the IRI is in jeopardy. During a call with congressional staff from Florida, a state with significant Cuban, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan populations, IRI leaders conveyed concerns over the organization’s sustainability without financial support, claiming it could endure for only a few more weeks. IRI President Daniel Twining expressed that the reductions in democracy promotion would primarily serve to benefit dictators in these nations.
Further complicating matters, 175 additional IRI programs globally are currently uncertain in terms of funding as they depend on the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), which has not accessed its designated government funds. The National Democratic Institute (NDI), IRI’s counterpart focusing on democratic initiatives abroad, faces a parallel crisis, having lost financial support for almost 100 programs, leaving only one active program in Venezuela.
Consequently, numerous employees involved in these initiatives at IRI, NED, and NDI have been placed on leave, while some have been entirely dismissed. The timing of these aid cancellations coincides with a marked increase in repression against religious freedom and political opposition in Nicaragua, where President Daniel Ortega’s administration has targeted the Catholic Church and expelled religious organizations. Previous reports highlight the forced exile of bishops and restrictions on priestly duties in hospitals.
The recent cuts to U.S. foreign aid designed to promote democracy in Nicaragua, Cuba, and Venezuela signify a substantial shift in policy that may inadvertently support authoritarian regimes. The decision has left numerous democracy-promoting organizations without crucial funding, raising serious concerns about their viability. Furthermore, these actions occur amidst an environment of escalating oppression, particularly against religious and political freedoms in Nicaragua, highlighting the critical intersection of foreign aid and democratic support in oppressive contexts.
Original Source: catholicvote.org
