UK cuts aid to global disease initiative by 15% to 850 million pounds

By Muvija M

LONDON (Reuters) -Britain on Tuesday slashed by 15% its contribution to a global initiative to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, with an 850-million-pound ($1.14 billion) pledge, the latest reduction in aid by nations struggling with tighter budgets.

Britain, historically a major donor to the Geneva-based Global Fund, has, like other major nations, been paring back its aid budget to fund increased defence spending.

But it said its 2026-2028 contribution would help save up to 1.3 million lives globally from the three diseases, and avert up to 22 million new cases or infections, adding that in dollar terms it was "only 5% less than the amount we invested" in the previous funding round.

According to Reuters calculations, the pledge reflects a 15% cut from the 1 billion pounds Britain had committed for the 2023-25 period, which had already been one-third lower than the contribution in the 2019 cycle.

CUTTING AID TO BOOST DEFENCE SPENDING

Earlier this year, the government cut its overall aid budget to 0.3% of gross national income from 0.5% in order to boost annual defence spending, as Europe came under growing pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to better defend itself.

The Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria is trying to raise $18 billion for its work in the three-year period in a challenging climate for global health funding, which has seen many big donors retreat in the wake of an aid overhaul in the United States under Trump.

The global health group says the money will help it save 23 million lives over the period, and help move the world closer to ending the three deadly infectious diseases.  

There have already been some pledges to the Global Fund from some of its biggest donors: Germany committed 1 billion euros in October, 300 million euros lower than its pledge in the last funding cycle, and the Gates Foundation pledged $912 million, matching its previous commitment.

Britain and South Africa are co-hosting a pledging event later this month in Johannesburg.

($1 = 0.7451 pounds)

(Reporting by Muvija M and Jennifer Rigby; Editing by Elizabeth Piper and Conor Humphries)