Title The US' Recent Freezing of Nearly All Its Foreign Aid Has Left Countries such as Cambodia and the Cook Islands with No Choice But to Suspend or Cancel Crucial Humanitarian Efforts

The US' recent freezing of nearly all its foreign aid has left countries such as Cambodia and the Cook Islands with no choice but to suspend or cancel crucial humanitarian efforts. These nations have now found themselves turning to China for support in areas where the US once held a dominant influence.

Successive US administrations have pledged to compete globally with China, identifying it as the sole potential rival for global leadership. However, the recent moves by President Trump and his administration's decision to heed billionaire advisor Elon Musk's advice have inadvertently ceded one of America's primary levers of soft power.

By freezing foreign aid, the US has essentially severed its decades-long commitment to improving conditions in developing nations through assistance programs like USAID. This move, which effectively put nearly the entire workforce on leave at USAID, has left countries vulnerable and reliant on China for funding, as seen in Cambodia's suspension of mine-clearing operations.

As John F. Kennedy once noted, he established USAID after observing the success of the Marshall Plan in rebuilding Europe. He hoped that by alleviating poverty, the US could reduce the Soviet Union's appeal to nations around the world. Today, Michael Schiffer, a former assistant administrator for Asia at USAID under former President Joe Biden, warns that China could soon become the dominant player in developing regions if the US does not reverse its current trajectory.

The question remains Will China step up? The United States has long held the title of top donor in the world, providing $64 billion in aid last year alone.

Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

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