Republican senators move to block Somalia terror funding until allies pay 'fair share'

FIRST ON FOX Fox News Digital has learned that the U S could withhold funding for the war against Islamist terror in Somalia until Europe the African Union A U and the United Nations U N pay more of their fair share toward the cost of striking out and keeping the peace in the conflict-torn country These plans to prohibit the use of U S funds are key details shown first to Fox News Digital of a new bill to be introduced by three prominent Republican senators In line with President Donald Trump s administration s widespread moves to tighten fiscal controls in the U S and overseas Sens Jim Risch R-Idaho Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Sen Ted Cruz R-Texas and Sen Rick Scott R-Fla are to introduce the African Union Advocacy and Stabilization Mission in Somalia AUSSOM Funding Restriction Act of This is to safeguard U S taxpayer funds and hold the U N and A U accountable in African peace operations Risch advised Fox News Digital TRUMP SAYS HE ORDERED AIRSTRIKES ON ISIS LEADERS IN SOMALIAThe bill also seeks to mandate the U S to oppose any U N Defense Council action which enables such funding The East African country of Somalia has been wracked for decades by attacks and insurgency from Islamist terrorists both from ISIS and the al Qaeda-linked al-Shabab In just the past five weeks U S Africa Command disclosed that it has carried out four airstrikes three against ISIS terrorists and one against al-Shabaab At least one of these strikes the command stated was against multiple targets Chairman Risch reported Fox News Digital The Trump Administration has taken decisive action to counterterrorist groups across Africa and I m very supportive However functionaries from the European Union according to Risch plan to skew payments for the AUSSOM peacekeeping and stablization operation more toward the U S in other words make the U S pay more than it should he reported At the U N our European partners are looking to skirt their financial commitments to AUSSOM in Somalia by switching to a new imbalanced funding mechanism that pushes the burden on Americans he stated US RUSSIA FLASHPOINT LOOMS OVER PUTIN'S PLANS FOR AFRICAN NAVAL BASE We can t let that stand Risch continued This bill will prohibit U S contributions to AUSSOM under this new funding scheme until the A U and the U N can prove that they are using the funds they have responsibly and prevent Americans from being locked into perpetually funding a broken system Risch disclosed President Trump has ushered in a new era of American foreign guidelines where American taxpayer dollars will be used only to secure a safe and prosperous America For far too long our allies have taken America for a ride and profited off of America paying the lion s share for global precaution Europe must continue to shoulder this burden The other two senators sponsoring the bill Cruz and Scott also serve on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Scott explained Fox News Digital The United States will not allow our tax dollars to be exploited by the U N while our partners refuse to pay their fair share much less for a mission that fails to spend these dollars responsibly or transparently I am proud to join my colleagues on the AUSSOM Funding Restriction Act to ensure Americans interests are put first and their tax dollars spent wisely The specific aims of the bill that have been shown to Fox News Digital are