The hard fall of American soft power

Six months after Donald Trump summarily destroyed USAID as one of his first acts on taking office, US soft power is in steep decline.

The hard fall of soft power

The erosion of American soft power, accelerated by the hollowing out of foreign aid and Washington’s turn to protectionism, marks a retreat from the global influence the United States once had and can only leave the world poorer and more vulnerable to authoritarian aggression.

Trump’s Pacific folly

USAID cuts and tariffs will harm the United States’ reputation in the Pacific more than they will harm the region itself.

Australia can take USAID’s place in the Pacific islands

The shutdown of USAID has been an enormous hit to US soft power and its ability to counter China in the Pacific but the worst outcomes can be avoided through the intervention of Australia and its allies.

The foreign aid lessons Trump refuses to learn

Donald Trump’s capricious destruction of America’s foreign aid programme will damage the USA as much as its recipients, and while the returning American President could learn much from his allies on foreign aid, there’s no sign whatsoever that he’s listening.

The tragic end of USAID

Donald Trump’s freeze on foreign aid will damage American interests, increase international distress and create new opportunities for China to step in.