Kyrgyz President Zhaparov praises U.S. decision to halt NGO funding

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov expressed support for U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to halt global funding for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) during his remarks at the 81st United Nations General Assembly. Zhaparov argued that the reduction in NGO funding has decreased external interference in the internal affairs of developing nations, allowing for greater national sovereignty and independent development paths.

In his address, Zhaparov also criticized unilateral sanctions, describing them as instruments used by major states to interfere in the affairs of sovereign nations and pressure smaller countries like Kyrgyzstan. He claimed that such sanctions are sometimes based on false information provided by NGOs and certain citizens, though he did not specify the entities involved.

The remarks coincide with a significant decline in American foreign assistance. Data indicates that U.S. foreign aid disbursements fell from approximately $73.5 billion in 2024 to $47.3 billion in 2025. Preliminary OECD data shows a nearly 57 percent reduction in U.S. official development assistance in 2025, contributing to a broader 23 percent decline in global donor aid that year.