WP: "Aid Represents U.S. Soft Power... May Yield Ground to Impure Motives"
The Donald Trump administration in the United States has significantly cut aid to Africa, reducing its influence, and Russia and China are seeking to exploit this vacuum, the Washington Post (WP) reported on the 24th (local time).
Upon taking office in January, President Trump signed an executive order to suspend U.S. foreign aid for 90 days. As a result, the operations of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) were halted, severely impacting African aid programs, which account for a quarter of USAID's budget.
Russia and China have quickly moved to take advantage of this U.S. decision. Last month, Russia delivered tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatments to the Central African Republic. Pierre Soms?, the Central African Republic’s Minister of Health, said in a TV interview, "Many governments are seeking ways to fill the gap caused by the uncertainty of U.S. support," adding, "We hope the Russian government will consider providing more assistance."
China recently erected a billboard in Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, bearing the phrase "China's Aid for a Shared Future." The Chinese ambassador to Kenya emphasized this in an interview with a major local daily newspaper.
Russia and China are also expanding their media presence across Africa. China operates CGTN bureaus throughout the continent alongside the state-run Xinhua News Agency. Similarly, last month Russia opened a regional broadcasting office for the state-run Sputnik in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia and headquarters of the African Union (AU), and formed a partnership with Ethiopian state media.
Experts have expressed concerns that these moves by Russia and China could further destabilize the situation in Africa. With increasing natural disasters caused by climate change, civil wars, and coups leading to humanitarian crises, Africa could face greater turmoil as it becomes entangled in the power struggles of major countries. Philip Breedlove, a former commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), said, "Vacuums of power are inevitably filled," adding, "If we do not engage, someone else will take that place." He also noted, "Many countries engage with others for impure motives."
Some worry that by abandoning its traditional approach of promoting its values abroad, the U.S. risks losing out in competition with Russia and China. James Gilmore, former chairman of the U.S. Republican National Committee (RNC), called for a review of U.S. aid programs, stating, "Many of these projects represent America's 'soft power.' If we cede this area to authoritarian states, the next century could be very bleak."
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