History is a witness that America and Europe did not gather manpower and natural resources for their development with the consent of all, they used force. It is the basic responsibility of power nations, including the United States, to encourage the development of countries that have been left behind by yesterday's exploitation.
US President Donald Trump, who has returned to the White House after 4 years, is taking the harsh decisions of the world. Since being sworn in last Monday, Trump has been making extraordinary decisions on immigration, border security, the economy, climate change, and bilateral and multilateral economic cooperation. Not only the suspension of support to the World Health Organization (WHO), but the decision of the US to withdraw from the climate agreement itself has shocked the world.
President Trump has issued an executive order to immediately suspend all financial aid that America has been giving around the world and to make a new decision only after a 90-day review. It is the sovereign right of the concerned country whether to give aid to any friendly country, how much to give and under what conditions. However, since economic aid is not only charity, it is also a tool of geopolitical influence, the immediate and long-term impact of Trump's order will not only affect the country that receives aid, but also the reputation and influence of the US that gives aid. Which can be assessed immediately.
Undoubtedly, the country that gives most foreign aid is America. In the year 2023 alone, it provided assistance worth 68 billion US dollars to 176 countries. According to ForeignAssistance.gov, 88 percent of that amount is economic aid and 12 percent is military aid. There are mainly two parts to the financial support received from the US or any allied countries.
First, because of such aid, the development efforts of many countries in the world have gained self-strength. Likewise, new programs in the areas of good governance, human development, disaster protection and preparedness, education, health and population, financial reform, administration reform, which have been suppressed internally, will come to the surface. Second, the military assistance received from the power nation strengthens the defense system of many countries in the world and also increases conflicts in many areas.
The dimensions of the conflict vary, but the favoring of the power nation is predetermined. There is also a huge contradiction between the definition of foreign aid and the reality, as strategic polarization prevails in conflicts, not human values. When Russia attacked Ukraine, the United States stood by Ukraine, and when Israel made a disaster in Palestine, the United States continued to support Israel until the end. Trump's latest order also did not stop the military funding of Israel and Egypt. Meanwhile, the US has separated from the agreement related to the vaccinations that children in poor countries are getting.
In countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, due to his direct military presence, not only the rulers there, but also the lives of the common citizens have an unforgettable past. Therefore, the assistance provided by the power nation cannot be an absolute boon or curse for the human community. It is not that the world has prospered due to the aid provided by America or that the development will be stopped if the aid is stopped. However, it is important to have a debate on why aid comes, why it stops and what are its implications.
Don't forget that financial support is not pure charity, but rather a responsibility. Because no country in the world has become rich or poor by itself. Many countries have become wealthy at the cost of limited countries. Today's Europe and America were built on the strength of African mines, Gulf oil and the sweat of immigrants. History is a witness that America and Europe did not gather manpower and natural resources for their development with the consent of all, they used force. It is the basic responsibility of a power nation, including America, to encourage the development of countries that have been left behind by yesterday's exploitation.
is not only a matter of interest of the country receiving financial aid, but also a tool of greater interest of the giver. The main purpose of cooperation is to determine where to establish one's place in the power struggle. It is certain that the US will be displaced from its role if the 'parenthood' that the US has been claiming by providing assistance under the title of development and humanitarian assistance, is blocked. There is no doubt that the cooperation suspended by Trump's order will now be resumed, although the American policy of accounting for its results and modifying its form cannot be considered otherwise. Every nation is free to account for its interests and influence. At the center of the
review, development partnership and military strategy should also be seen in different proportions. On the one hand, America will worry about how to make education, health and food programs effective. However, it is the responsibility of the world community to monitor whether the US and the superpower sponsored conflict budgets are reduced or not. The greatest challenge today is to discourage military alliances of any name and to foster a partnership for peace and prosperity. Any decision to curb the export of conflict and increase development partnerships should be welcomed by the international community.
