Since the inaugural of his second non-consecutive term in the United States, President Donald Trump has made unpopular and bold decisions. His move to pause USAID for all countries for at least three months has disrupted the ongoing development and humanitarian projects globally.
Seeing the positive outcomes of the project, the United States continued it even after the end of the Cold War. However, with time, its mandate has expanded. It helped the US to sustain its influence over the globe for a long time. USAID advocates governance reforms, and women’s rights, and backs economic policies aligned with the US interests, along with providing education, clean water, food, and lifesaving medicines to the needy people. However, its outcomes often prove detrimental to the security and sovereignty of the recipient countries. For instance, the Green Revolution, a project for improving agricultural productivity, triggered mass rural migrations and also caused significant ecological issues in different countries.
The Current Shift in US Foreign Aid Under President Trump
Nonetheless, it proved beneficial for the US establishment. Numerous global leaders aligned themselves with the American strategic interest due to the economic plight of their nation. However, the incumbent US President Donald Trump has temporarily paused the USAID programs, to assess if the recipient countries are aligned with the US interests, defined by his administration. It’s a part of his broader ambition to downsize public institutions, to increase their efficiency. In the past, all the American leaders have been using this project, under the pretense of elevating poverty and promoting liberal values, to expand the US influence over the globe. However, President Trump seems determined to isolate the US globally. Despite significant positive outcomes of the USAID for the US hegemony, he considers all these efforts futile. He seeks to have only transactional relations with other countries. His America First policy would only expedite the decline of the US hegemony.
Although President Trump increased tariffs on different countries and reduced the United States’ foreign spending and aid during his previous tenure, his current policies, especially the USAID ban, are highly offensive and detrimental to the US interests. It will also impact the third-world, and war-torn countries negatively. The recent waiver issued by U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to provide food aid to distressed regions like Gaza has been met with skepticism, as the assistance represents only a fraction of the broader projects funded by USAID. All crucial development projects in third-world countries, previously funded by the USAID program, have been halted.
The Consequences of Trump’s USAID Ban on Global Influence
Trump’s move to pause USAID has sent a major blow to the international development sector. This decision has sparked immense apprehension amongst US government employees and international professionals working on USAID-funded projects worldwide. The United States has been the largest international aid donor. Only in FY 2024, the $21.7 billion were provided to different countries under the USAID program. It has also been a key donor to multilateral institutions like the UN, the World Bank, and other such agencies. However, because of the vast size of its economy, the total amount of U.S. foreign aid makes up less than 1 percent of the country’s overall budget.
It is totally absurd for Trump to think that his ban on USAID will do any good for the United States. The only consequence of this move will be the further decline of the US global hegemony. Russia and China are rapidly rising as the new superpowers of the world. The globe is already moving to a multipolar world under their leadership. The success of BRICS and the increasing influence of the two countries indicate that third-world countries will approach them for their economic needs. The increasing interest of different countries in BRICS membership also suggests that the world has other appropriate opportunities to fulfill its financial needs.
The US has always used coercive measures to achieve its strategic interests. It is also known for betraying its allies after achieving its regional ambitions. On the other hand, Russia and China, the two leaders of the contemporary multipolar world order, have adopted inclusive policies. The two countries have also played instrumental roles in establishing peace in the Middle East and beyond. China’s BRI project provides third-world countries with an opportunity for economic and infrastructural development. Therefore, Trump’s contemporary policies will only jeopardize the US strategic interest and further erode the soft power of the country.
Taut Bataut – is a researcher and writer that publishes on South Asian geopolitics
