The former United States ambassador to the organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) James Gilmore is urging the Trump administration to reuse trimmed funds from Usaid to counteract the growing worldwide influence of China and Russia.
Gilmore agrees with President Donald Trump to make cuts for foreign funds requires a “scalpel, not an ax”, but states that it can be done more to strategically reform foreign aid.
“The decisions we make today will create the world of tomorrow. If we begin by abandoning foreign assistance, which China and our adversaries will administer the New World,” Gilmore told Fox News Digital. “Now more than ever, the United States needs to develop our military and national security force while displaying a solid 'soft' power strategy and political initiative to counteract the growing global influence of China and Russia.”
From left to right: Russian President Vladimir Putin, the president of the United States, Donald Trump, and Chinese President Xi Jinping (Reuters)
Pete Marocco, a master mind behind the dismantling of USAID projects, leaves the State Department
However, Gilmore emphasized a recent opinion article that “every dollar” of foreign aid must make the United States safer and stronger, and align with the national strategy of the United States. He sees the help spent in this way as an investment.
In addition, Gilmore told Fox News Digital that he is concerned about the increase in isolation between Republicans, especially because United States adversaries use soft power tactics to spread their influence.
“When the United States retires from global leadership, instability blooms and our enemies take advantage of,” Gilmore warned in his opinion article, adding that in the absence of American leadership “the weak states become breeding coves for terrorism and drug cartels.”
The Chinese president, Xi Jinping, and the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, set their hands after signing a joint declaration of the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation on the deepening of the Integral Strategic Association of the Coordination for the New Age and a Joint Declaration of the President of the Popular Republic of China and the President of the Russian Russian Russian Federation of the Russian Russian Federation of the Russian Russian Federation Rusada XI on Tuesday he had conversations with Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow. (Xie Huanchi/Xinhua through Getty Images)
The former USAID officer warns that China is already looking to fill the left void for pause programs
Both China and Russia have invested in economic development efforts in recent years, particularly in Africa. The continent received great success when several USAID programs, including those destined to combat hunger and disease, were closed.
In February 2024, Russia claimed to have sent more than 220,000 tons of free grain to six African nations, according to Reuters.
A few months later, in November 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered Africa the “total support” of his country in the fight against terrorism and extremism, BBC reported.
China has also made great investments in economic development worldwide. According to a 2024 report of the United States Global Leadership Coalition, China has increased its development expenditure by 525% in the last 15 years.
In September 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping promised $ 51 billion in funds in the course of three years, Reuters reported.
The Ukrainian soldier leaves the Cabin of the DS3 artillery as the Russia-Ukraine war continues, in the direction of Niu York, Ukraine, March 5, 2025. ((Photo of Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu through Getty Images)))
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Gilmore told Fox News Digital that the key to counteracting Chinese and Russian aggression is victory in Ukraine. He sees the ongoing war as a “pivot for the future” and said that the United States cannot let Russia win.
“Ukraine is on the first line of a new World War between democracies and authoritarian regimes that are fought with military and soft power,” Gilmore told Fox News Digital.
“If Ukraine is conquered by force, Putin will continue his long -term goal to re -assemble the Russian empire, and compromise security, independence and Europe, and challenge Europe's friendship with the United States, a defeat of Ukraine will require a greater investment of resources to defend our allies.”
