Perspective matters. The roughly $15 billion worth of military assistance and equipment the U.S. has provided to Ukraine through Presidential drawdowns of existing Defense Department stocks (PDA) and Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) sounds like a lot. In raw absolute terms, it is. But it pales in comparison to what the U.S. spent in Iraq and Afghanistan. The tiny little chart you see outlined in red on the right side of the chart above this paragraph is the aid to Ukraine scaled to actual size versus the massive amounts we spent in CENTCOM.
The difference in returns on each security investment is stark. Despite more than $1 trillion in cumulative U.S. spend over two decades, an Afghan government facing gunmen in pickups crumpled in weeks. In contrast, a Ukrainian state receiving a tiny fraction as much has held its own against a full-scale onslaught by one of the larger nation-state militaries on the planet.
We would need to more than double what we’ve provided Ukraine thus far in 2022 just to match the inflation-adjusted amount DoD spent in Fiscal 2021 on Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. Let’s stay the course knowing that each dollar of equipment and assistance provided to Ukraine now saves lives there and bolsters our security here as well. Isolationism will not bring peace but investment in Ukraine’s defense helps hold the line against the forces of division and disorder that Russia and its ilk represent.
Frequently asked questions
How much military aid has the U.S. given Ukraine?
As of this September 2022 analysis, the U.S. had provided roughly $15 billion in military assistance and equipment to Ukraine. The aid came through Presidential drawdowns of existing Defense Department stocks (PDA) and the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). Gabriel Collins notes the sum is large in absolute terms but modest compared with recent U.S. wars.
How does U.S. aid to Ukraine compare with spending in Iraq and Afghanistan?
U.S. aid to Ukraine is a small fraction of what Washington spent in the CENTCOM theater. Cumulative U.S. spending exceeded $1 trillion over two decades, while Ukraine had received roughly $15 billion. The U.S. would need to more than double its 2022 Ukraine aid to match inflation-adjusted Fiscal 2021 Defense Department spending on Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria.
Is military aid to Ukraine a better return than the war in Afghanistan?
Gabriel Collins argues the difference in returns is stark. Despite more than $1 trillion in U.S. spending over two decades, the Afghan government crumpled in weeks against gunmen in pickups. Ukraine, receiving a tiny fraction as much, has held its own against a full-scale onslaught by one of the larger nation-state militaries on the planet.
Why does Gabriel Collins support continued U.S. military aid to Ukraine?
Collins argues each dollar of equipment and assistance sent to Ukraine saves lives there and bolsters U.S. security at home. He contends that isolationism will not bring peace, while investment in Ukraine’s defense helps hold the line against the forces of division and disorder that Russia represents. He urges Washington to stay the course.
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