The Peruvian foreign minister confirmed the Trump administration's decision to halt programs run by the United States Agency for International Development.

On Monday, the government of President Donald Trump announced the suspension of aid to Peru in programs managed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The news was confirmed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru, Elmer Schialer.

The US government's measure was announced through a statement from the US Department of State: "Consistent with President Trump's executive order to reassess and realign US foreign assistance, Secretary [Marco] Rubio has paused all US foreign assistance funded by or through the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in order to conduct a review. He is initiating a review of all foreign assistance programs to ensure they are efficient and consistent with US foreign policy under the US 'America First' priority agenda," the document states.

The statement added that President Trump had made it clear that the United States would no longer blindly hand out money without a return for the American people. "Reviewing and realigning foreign assistance on behalf of hard-working taxpayers is not only the right thing to do, it is a moral imperative. The Secretary is proud to protect America's investments by conducting a deliberate and judicious review of how foreign assistance dollars are spent abroad," the statement said.

SUSPENSION FOR 90 DAYS

In an interview with local radio station Exitosa, Foreign Minister Elmer Shialer said that on January 20, during the inauguration of the new US administration, an executive order was issued to "reassess, redirect or realign" US foreign aid. However, he considered it unlikely that a withdrawal of funds would occur.

It should be noted that the measure affects several countries and will last for 90 days.

Schialer also said that foreign aid will not be eliminated in critical matters of U.S. national security.

"I am absolutely sure that it will not be touched (the aid) because it is indeed something strategic for the Americans themselves," he said.