During a recent visit to Kyiv, Lammy drew parallels between the US aid cuts and the UK’s own decision in 2020 to merge its Department for International Development into the Foreign Office
In a move that has sparked global concern, former US President Donald Trump’s proposed deep cuts to America’s international aid budget could create a strategic vacuum, allowing China to expand its influence, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has warned. Lammy emphasized that Britain’s own experience with reducing its aid efforts had significantly weakened its global standing and advised the US to avoid making the same mistake.
Trump’s administration has already initiated sweeping changes, including massive layoffs at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the suspension of numerous aid programs, including in Ukraine. This abrupt shift, ahead of plans to consolidate USAID within the State Department, has been criticized as a major foreign policy blunder. Critics argue that the United States, which contributes approximately 40% of global humanitarian aid, risks exacerbating crises such as disease outbreaks, famine, and conflicts, while also ceding geopolitical influence to rivals like China.
During a recent visit to Kyiv, Lammy drew parallels between the US aid cuts and the UK’s own decision in 2020 to merge its Department for International Development (DfID) into the Foreign Office. The UK’s move, executed under former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, was widely criticized for diminishing Britain’s ‘soft power’ in developing nations. “What I can say to American friends is that it’s widely accepted that the UK’s decision to close down DfID with very little preparation was a big strategic mistake,” Lammy stated. “We have spent years trying to undo the damage. Development remains a very important soft power tool. In its absence, I would be very worried that China and others will step in.”
A US judge recently issued an order temporarily preventing the Trump administration from fully dismantling USAID. The ruling, handed down by District Judge Carl Nichols in Washington, blocks some of the immediate layoffs and administrative changes affecting 2,200 USAID employees. However, the decision is expected to be limited in scope and temporary.
Ukraine, a key recipient of US foreign aid, is already feeling the effects of the funding freeze. Critical projects, including those supporting military veterans, independent media, and anti-corruption initiatives, have come to a halt. The United Kingdom has pledged to provide as much assistance as possible, but Lammy acknowledged that British resources are limited compared to the United States. He also noted that it remains unclear whether Trump’s administration intends to completely withdraw from international development or simply restructure it within the State Department.
As Trump continues to push for an ‘America First’ approach, he also signed an executive order authorizing economic sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC). This action follows the ICC’s decision to issue arrest warrants for Israeli ministers over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Trump denounced the court’s actions as “illegitimate and baseless.”
In Kyiv, Lammy met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other senior officials, reaffirming the UK’s commitment to supporting Ukraine. He expressed skepticism over the prospects of imminent peace negotiations, despite US claims that it aims to facilitate an end to the conflict. “I am not sure we are weeks away from peace talks,” Lammy said. “Our assessment, which I’m quite sure the U.S. shares, is that [Russian President] Vladimir Putin shows absolutely no appetite for negotiation.”
With Ukraine still embroiled in heavy fighting, Lammy emphasized that the war was unlikely to see a ceasefire in the near future. He noted that previous international monitoring efforts along Ukraine’s 1,200-kilometer border with Russia had failed due to repeated Russian violations, adding, “That cannot happen again.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has expressed Britain’s commitment to playing a significant role in any future security guarantees for Ukraine. While he has not ruled out deploying British troops as peacekeepers in a post-war scenario, Lammy stressed that discussions among European and G7 allies regarding long-term security arrangements could take months. “Security guarantees must be tailored to the specific conflict environment,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has urged European allies to increase defense spending, citing concerns over Russian aggression. The Trump administration has also demanded that NATO members boost their defense budgets to at least 5% of GDP. Lammy agreed that increased military funding was essential, stating, “As Foreign Secretary, I’m really clear that we have to increase defense spending. It’s important that we play our role.”
However, Lammy stopped short of guaranteeing that the UK would reach its own defense spending target of 2.5% of GDP within the current parliamentary term. He indicated that a detailed spending plan would be outlined in the coming months, ahead of the June budget review, while acknowledging the need to balance defense expenditures with domestic priorities.
Despite promising to restore Britain’s reputation as a reliable development partner, the Labour government recently announced further cuts to international aid in its autumn budget. This decision casts doubt on the UK’s ability to return to its previous aid target of 0.7% of GDP from the current 0.5%. Economic conditions, Lammy warned, may not allow for such an increase before the next election.
As the world watches the US and UK reassess their roles in international development, concerns continue to mount over the potential consequences of reduced aid spending. With China seeking to expand its influence and ongoing conflicts requiring substantial humanitarian support, Western nations face critical decisions about their global responsibilities.
ALSO READ: UK orders Apple to give it access to users’ encrypted accounts
