Security package including Ukraine support fails to pass US Senate, "Effectively Doomed"

Falling Short by 11 Votes with 49 in Favor
Opposition from Republican Party on Strengthening Border Control Leads to Clash

The U.S. security package budget bill, which includes military support for Ukraine and Israel and border reinforcement, failed to pass the Senate on the 7th (local time).

In the Senate vote to end debate on the budget bill that day, only 49 votes were in favor, falling short of the 60 votes required for approval. There were 50 votes against.

United States Capitol Building
Photo by Yonhap News

On the 4th, the Senate prepared a security package budget bill worth $118 billion (approximately 158 trillion won) through bipartisan agreement, covering support for Ukraine and Israel, strengthening border control, support for Indo-Pacific allies and partners, and humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip.

Following this, despite pressure from President Biden demanding the bill's passage and a letter from U.S. ambassadors stationed in nine Indo-Pacific countries, the bill faced opposition from Republican leadership.

With the Republican leadership in the House, the majority party, publicly opposing this package, and the Senate failing to pass the vote, the security package is widely considered effectively dead.

Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is reportedly pursuing a Plan B that excludes the border control measures opposed by Republicans and focuses solely on a pure foreign security support budget including aid for Ukraine and Israel.

Meanwhile, Ukraine, which will mark the second anniversary of the war on the 24th, is facing an increasingly desperate situation due to delays in the U.S. Congress's handling of the security budget bill.