Ireland defends €14m aid increase amid US pressure on European defense spending

Irish ministers defended a €14m rise in overseas development aid and continued Ukraine funding, noting Ireland and Spain were the only EU countries to increase aid budgets last year. The statement comes amid US pressure on European allies to boost defense spending, highlighting a divergence in fiscal priorities. The increase is modest and continues an established pattern of Irish aid policy, but the defense of it signals sensitivity to transatlantic criticism.