Lethal Aid
Weapons gifted to another country
Example
How much money do you think we spend on lethal aid each year?
Lethal aid definition by Slang.net
This page explains what the slang term "Lethal aid" means. The definition, example, and related terms listed above have been written and compiled by the Slang.net team.
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When a news article says one country is providing lethal aid to another, it means the first country is gifting the second military weapons, ammunition, and equipment. This euphemism began appearing in the news more frequently in early 2022, as tensions mounted between Russia, Ukraine, and NATO countries, prompting the U.S. to send millions of dollars worth of lethal aid to Ukraine.
When was the term lethal aid first used?
The Pentagon and news outlets have used the term lethal aid to refer to gifted weapons and equipment since at least the mid-2010s. For example, a 2015 PBS article about President Obama's reticence to send weapons to Ukraine is titled "Obama to reconsider providing lethal aid to Ukraine."