It was believed that it would promote liberal capitalist models of development in other countries and that it would enhance national security. The United States is the largest contributor of military aid to foreign countries in the world, providing some form of assistance to over 150 countries each year. The United States gives the same amount of money to its top five aid recipients as they give to the rest of the world. 2  Military aid went to Latin American dictatorships in the second half of the 20th century.