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

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.