Trump: USAD reduction saves money, experts warn of advantages for China

Trump: USAD reduction saves money, experts warn of advantages for China

The future of the US Agency for International Development (USA) is on the brink. President Donald Trump urges them to abolish them and refers to them as a waste of money, which is led by "insane". However, experts warn that these plans are playing the interests of China's hands, a country that Trump sees as the greatest threat to the US interests.

rapid reduction of development aid

The efforts to abolish the agency, which provides humanitarian and development aiders, are progressing at a rapid pace. On the first day of Trump's presidency, he ordered a 90-day suspension of almost all foreign help. It was recently announced that the government is planning to reduce the workforce from 10,000 to less than 300 employees.

consequences for the global community

This leaves billions of dollars in the hover. The effects will be immediately noticeable: life -saving health programs, early warning systems and measures for nutritional safety are discontinued. Senator Andy Kim from New Jersey said: "Trump's measures weaken the global leadership role and the influence of the United States at a time when we face serious national security threats. Trump opens the door for our competitors and opponents."

China's growing influence

At the forefront of China, which has long been in the process of expanding its influence in the developing countries, through enormous investments. Several experts reported that the country is willing to benefit from the US back from the world.

The origins of USAID

The USA was founded in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy to counter the Soviet engagement in developing countries. Their declared goal was to promote global social and economic development. "It is a huge symbol for internationalism ... for the commitment to the rest of the world," said Li Shuo, director of the China Climate Hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute.

contribution to stability

In the decades since then, USAID has contributed to strengthening American influence, Sherri Goodman, General Secretary of the International Military Council on Climate and Security. USAID is not only altruistic, but also serves national interests, explained George Ingram, Senior Fellow at Brooking's institution and former USAI civil servant under the Clinton administration.

potential of a US aid reduction

The agency can develop markets for trade in the USA and has also contributed to increasing the stability of the countries, which can reduce global migration and prevent the United States from being involved in conflicts abroad. Programs to combat climate change have built up resilience and combated energy poverty, but also created an “same field of play” for US companies in the field of renewable energies, added Gillian Caldwell, former chief climate representative of USAID.

China's strategic advantages

The one -sided withdrawal of these help creates a “power vacuum” and offers China a “great gift,” explained Goodman. The influence of the country in the global south has been growing for years, among other things through its Belt and Road Initiative, which has invested hundreds of billions of dollars in development and infrastructure projects in Asia, Africa, Latin America and parts of Europe.

The future of international development aid

China will probably not directly replace the funds lost due to the elimination of the USA, since most of their programs include help support, while China's development cooperation mainly consists of loans. This has led to criticism that Beijing is burdening developing countries with intolerable debts - an accusation that it denies.

It remains unclear which programs from the USA could possibly survive. Marco Rubio, acting administrator of the agency, has explained that there are parts of the USA-Financing that he supports, but the details remain vague. Even if some projects are preserved, there are great concerns that confidence in the United States has already been severely undermined and there will be a big winner.

"Trump has probably contributed more to make China big in two weeks when XI made it in a decade," said Tsang.

Post: Simone McCarthy, CNN