FT News Briefing Swamp Notes: Trump redefines America’s global role
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Feb 1, 2025 David Pilling, the Africa editor for the Financial Times, discusses the significant effects of Trump's freeze on U.S. foreign aid, impacting everything from public health to anti-narcotics programs in dependent countries. The conversation emphasizes the implications for global stability, particularly as aid priorities shift and some nations remain exempt. Pilling also explores the evolving U.S. foreign policy landscape, the competition with China, and the humanitarian crises exacerbated by this new transactional approach.
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Aid Disruption
- US foreign aid's unexpected halt caused widespread disruption.
- Anti-narcotic planes in Colombia were grounded, and South African doctors faced uncertainty about HIV medication dispensing.
Reversed Approach
- The US is re-evaluating its approach to foreign aid.
- Instead of cutting unnecessary programs, they've frozen everything and are selectively restarting essential ones.
Soft Power and Aid
- The US leverages foreign aid for soft power, though its spending is proportionally less than other countries.
- Programs like PEPFAR, which combats HIV/AIDS, demonstrate how aid can simultaneously promote goodwill, public health, and American security.