UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy warns that Trump's plans to cut U.S. international aid could lead to a strategic mistake, allowing China to expand its global influence. Reflecting on the UK's past experience of merging its international development department, Lammy emphasizes the negative impact on soft power and development efforts. The suspension of U.S. aid in areas like Ukraine is already causing disruptions in critical humanitarian initiatives. Lammy cautions the U.S. against repeating the UK's errors, highlighting the importance of development as a tool against rising foreign adversaries.
What I can say to American friends is it's widely accepted that the decision by the UK with very little preparation to close down DfiD... was a big strategic mistake.
Development remains a very important soft power tool. And in the absence of development I would be very worried that China and others step into that gap.
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