[Post 1222] Trump Cuts USAID To Southeast Asia: Will It Affect American Soft Power In The Region? | Insight

Summary

USAID is on its last legs. The Trump administration has terminated about 90% of foreign aid contracts. In Asia, this will have crippling impact on a slew of NGOs and programmes involved in humanitarian and political work. 

In Cambodia, demining organisations could see funding for their continued operations dry up, leaving millions of mines unearthed. In Thailand, camps struggle to provide for refugees fleeing the civil war in Myanmar. In the Philippines, could military aid be at risk, and compromise the country’s security efforts in the South China Sea. And across Asia, efforts to uplift minorities and women could be cut by anti-DEI narratives.

As President Trump slashes foreign aid around the world, what will this do to America’s “soft power” diplomacy in Southeast Asia?