Trump's Foreign Aid and International Disorder: Is Worldwide Turmoil Imminent? (Sunanda K. Datta-Ray)

In the realm of international relations, few topics have sparked as much controversy as the Panama Canal and the aid provided by the United States.

The Panama Canal, completed in 1914, was the result of a treaty signed in 1903 between the U.S. and Panama. The treaty granted the U.S. "in perpetuity the use, occupation and control of a zone of land," a deal that was considered a cruel hoax by many, including Panamanian leaders like General Omar Torrijos Herrera.

The arrangement was compared to the unequal treaties imposed on the Manchus and Ottomans by Dean Rusk, a former U.S. Secretary of State. Torrijos denounced the iniquitous arrangement at Non-aligned Nations' Summits, and stalwart supporters of Panama at the Security Council, including Australia, Austria, France, and Kenya, were unable to liberate the Canal Zone due to the U.S. veto. It wasn't until President Jimmy Carter's administration that steps were initiated to restore what was unfairly acquired.

Meanwhile, across the globe, the U.S. found itself embroiled in another controversy. In the 1950s, 72,500 undocumented Indian fortune-seekers went illegally to the U.S., a fact often overlooked. The return of 104 of these individuals in handcuffs and shackles was met with outrage, a case in point of the world loving to hate America, as the fiasco was described. The return was blamed on America's racist arrogance.

Fast forward to the present day, and the U.S. finds itself once again at the centre of aid-related controversy. President Trump's decision to freeze billions of dollars in international aid projects, including $268 million for independent media and free flow of information, has resulted in chaos and consternation. Critics argue that America's aid is not undiluted charity but is considered some sort of investment by the U.S.

In contrast, the U.S. has invested heavily in its own domestic industries. The CHIPS Act, for instance, provides over $10.9 billion in funding aimed at U.S. chip manufacturers like Intel, to secure national technological leadership and security.

Recently, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has faced criticism. Its website is inaccessible, X account suspended, and its headquarters are closed with employees told to stay home due to the freeze. Elon Musk, chosen to lead the quasi-official Department of Government Efficiency by President Trump, reportedly called USAID a "criminal organization" and said "We're shutting down."

However, it's important to note that since 1948, the U.S. has distributed more than $3.8 trillion (adjusted for inflation) to poorer recipients. This aid, according to some, is not charity but an investment, aimed at fostering stability and cooperation around the world.

In a recent appeal, Daw Zin Mar Aung, the foreign minister of Myanmar's government-in-exile, urged the U.S. to carefully reconsider its aid and immigration policies to avoid worsening the conditions of refugees. As we reflect on the past and look to the future, it's crucial that we remember the potential impact of our actions on the global stage.

Monaco, too, provides an interesting case study. Despite needing aid for reconstruction after the Second World War, it did not qualify under the United States of America's Marshall Plan. In a humorous twist, Monaco sent a cable to Paris asking for the urgent despatch of half a dozen French Communist terrorists to qualify for aid.

The Panama Canal and the aid provided by the U.S. are but two examples of the complexities and controversies that have marked U.S. foreign policy. As we navigate the challenges of the 21st century, it's essential that we learn from the past and strive for a more equitable and cooperative world.

Trump's Foreign Aid and International Disorder: Is Worldwide Turmoil Imminent? (Sunanda K. Datta-Ray)