US stuns with $4.6bn Global Fund pledge amid rift with SA over G20

The United States unexpectedly pledged $4.6 billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria at a replenishment event on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Johannesburg, despite ongoing tensions with South Africa. The fund, which has saved an estimated 70 million lives since 2002, seeks $14 billion in pledges to meet its $18 billion budget for ongoing programs, with additional commitments from the UK ($1 billion+), Canada ($1.02 billion), and several other nations and organizations. U.S. Under-Secretary Jeremy P. Lewin emphasized reforms to cut wasteful aid while praising the fund's efficiency and alignment with America's global health strategy. This significant contribution reaffirms U.S. leadership in high-impact global health initiatives amid broader fiscal adjustments.