The Swiss government has decided to terminate its development aid programs for Albania, Bangladesh, and Zambia by the end of 2028, following budget cuts approved by the Swiss Parliament. This decision is part of a broader reduction in Switzerland’s international cooperation budget, which also affects other recipient countries of Swiss aid.
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According to an official statement, the Swiss Parliament has cut 110 million Swiss francs ($121 million) from the international cooperation budget for 2025 and an additional 321 million francs for the 2026-2028 period. As a result, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) will discontinue bilateral development programs in these countries.
Despite these reductions, humanitarian aid and support for Ukraine will remain unaffected, reflecting Switzerland’s strategic foreign policy priorities.
Switzerland’s decision comes just one day after the U.S. Embassy in Tirana informed Albanian institutions of the suspension of U.S. financial support. This move follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump, which mandates a review of all foreign aid programs and their suspension until they align with the new administration’s foreign policy priorities.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the implementation of the executive order, stating that “no U.S. international aid will be distributed unless it is fully aligned with the foreign policy of the President of the United States.”