Sweden to Redirect Aid From Five Countries to Boost Support for Ukraine

Sweden to Redirect Aid From Five Countries to Boost Support for Ukraine
………..

Sweden announced plans to phase out development assistance to five countries in the coming years and reallocate the funds to Ukraine, according to a government statement reported by Anadolu Agency. International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Minister Benjamin Dousa said aid to Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Mozambique, Liberia and Bolivia will be gradually discontinued as Stockholm shifts its priorities.

Dousa emphasized that supporting Ukraine remains Sweden’s top foreign and aid policy objective, noting that the government intends to raise assistance to Kyiv to at least 10 billion kronor ($1.06 billion) in 2026. He said the decision reflects financial realities, adding that “there is no secret printing press” to expand the aid budget without reducing spending elsewhere. According to the government, phasing out assistance to the five countries will free more than 2 billion kronor over the next two years. The redirected funds will support reconstruction projects in Ukraine, including work on its damaged energy infrastructure.

Since taking office in 2022, the current Swedish government has already cut aid to more than 10 countries, among them Burkina Faso and Mali. Sweden remains a major international donor, allocating an average of 56 billion kronor annually for development and humanitarian aid over the past three years. However, the government plans to reduce that figure to 53 billion kronor per year from 2026 to 2028, as part of a broader reprioritization that includes covering certain immigration and repatriation costs.