U.S. COVID-19 Aid Through the Military and State Department
January 6, 2021COVID-19
SEATTLE, Washington — The U.S. has long been a champion of global health aid, contributing more than $140 billion in the past two decades to support health assistance around the world. Despite domestic struggles in containing the novel coronavirus, the U.S. has still contributed $1.6 billion in the State Department and USAID funding towards COVID-19 aid. The U.S. military is of the key actors in delivering this aid to developing countries.
A Productive Partnership
The Department of State is responsible for implementing U.S. foreign policy goals through diplomatic policies. To emphasize the importance of the State Department’s role in foreign policy, former Secretary of Defense James Mattis once said, “If you don’t fund the State Department fully, then I need to buy more ammunition ultimately.” One of the ways that diplomacy and defense work in tandem is through the Foreign Policy Advisor (POLAD) exchange program.