22.02.2024

The dismantling of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) by the Trump administration is drawing international criticism. “It is one of the most serious and costly foreign policy blunders in American history,” according to the agency’s former director Samantha Power, AFP reports, cited by Agerpres.

Our colleague Ștefan Cibian, Ph.D., who is an expert in international development, spoke at length in an interview with Libertatea about the effects of USAID’s closure on a global scale.

“There will be institutions that will not be able to pay salaries. It is probable that some countries and even ministries will not be able to function. There are going to be a number of organizations that are probably going to close their programs, lay off staff, and stop working with the beneficiaries they were working with before. Millions of people will no longer receive the assistance they were receiving in terms of food, in terms of countering some aspects of poverty, in terms of their health, in terms of medicine that is essential for those people, or in terms of continuing their education.” says Stefan Cibian, executive director of the Făgăraș Research Institute.

He explained the role of these funds in international relations and how partner countries will be affected by the US administration’s decision. You can read the full interview (RO) here.

Departments: International Center On Global Affairs And Postdevelopment; Societate, Criză și Reziliență; Policy Analysis and Outreach Department.

Regions: North America.

Themes:  Political Science; International Development; Foreign Policy and Diplomacy; Public Policy.