During the night to Monday, the US President Donald Trump's "efficiency chief" Elon Musk announced that USAID would be shut down – a message that was followed by immediate actions such as shut down websites and social media accounts, as well as personnel being denied access to their workplaces.
The US is the world's largest single donor of development aid, and a shutdown of USAID would, of course, have very significant global consequences, says Minister for Development Cooperation Benjamin Dousa (M).
Dousa highlights that Trump had already previously announced that the US would stop all American aid for 90 days. Trump has also stated that they would reintroduce what is called the "Mexico City policy" – which stops federal American aid to foreign organizations working with abortion issues.
Dousa says, however, that it is "reassuring" that Foreign Minister Marco Rubio has made an exception for humanitarian food aid, life-saving medicines, and protection. But if the "Mexico City policy" is introduced, it would be "a major concern for Sweden" since the government prioritizes issues such as global gender equality, maternal care, and contraceptives, says Dousa.
The Swedish aid agency Sida and USAID collaborate in various ways.
Sida is currently inventorying whether there are any individual projects that risk being affected in the short term due to this series of decisions from the American administration, says Dousa.
He further states that the civilian support to Ukraine – including demining – is an area that Sweden is following with particular interest.
