A group of retired military leaders expressed concerns about potential US foreign aid cuts, warning that such moves may enable China to expand its global influence. They emphasized the need for the US to maintain a presence through agencies like USAID to counteract growing influence from nations such as China, Russia, and Iran. The retired generals highlighted China's strategic investments, particularly through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative, indicating that as the US retreats, adversaries are prepared to occupy the resulting void, threatening US foreign interests.
"Anytime that we the United States depart an area that we used to be in, either with USAID as a program, or other soft power initiatives, some foes, whether it's China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, are filling that void."
"It's an area that we need to watch and be very mindful of, from a US foreign policy perspective."
"The US Global Leadership Coalition advocates for a 'strong' budget on foreign affairs and has been critical of the USAID reforms."
"China began angling to make diplomatic inroads overseas with its Belt and Road Initiative, in which it provides loans and capital to an assortment of infrastructure projects in developing countries."
Collection
[
|
...
]