by Olivier Acuña Barba •Published: April 15, 2025•10:30•2 minutes read
The order from USAID and its 2025 EUR 55.8 billion budget is rushing to fill the gap the European Union knows they can’t control on their own.
“Europe alone cannot compensate for the withdrawal of USAID,” France’s Mohamed Solich told Euractiv that he is French Fony and the Minister of International Partnership. His concerns are reflected in European NGOs and around the world, with the exception of Russia and the left-wing countries around the world.
“Isabella Leving, vice-chairman of the European Parliament’s Development Committee, told the Guardian on Tuesday that Trump’s decision to cut USAID is very disappointing and (and) will have very dramatic results around the world.” She said it is impossible for the EU to fill the gap.
“If we are thinking about global security and stability, the EU and its member states must invest in democracy in developing countries, eradicating poverty, and supporting communities and citizens,” the former Swedish Minister of International Development said.
“It’s a way to prevent conflict and involuntary migration and instability that we don’t want to see,” Robin added.
Charlotte Slente, executive director of the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), one of Europe’s largest NGOs, agrees that the rise in the humanitarian crisis is foreseeing a “very difficult year” as it cuts budgets.
For example, the DRC predicts an increase of 6.7 million displaced people by the end of 2026, adding it to 122.6 million people worldwide who have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, political turmoil or climate-induced disasters.
Mark Moore, CEO of British Mana Nutrition, said the closure of USAID means his company won’t receive the $20 million owed to him. He noted that this would affect the life-saving food packets his company sends to hundreds of thousands of malnourished children around the world.
Not everyone regrets closing USAID
Last week, Russia praised the US decision to shut down USAID. The government of Vladimir Putin calls humanitarian groups “machines for interference” in global issues.
“It’s nothing more than aid, development and support agencies,” said Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “It’s a machine that interferes with the internal affairs. It’s a mechanism that changes government, political order, and state structure.”
Other so-called leftist regimes, including Iran, Nicaragua and Venezuela, have also cheered at the end of the USAID, calling them “black boxes for corruption.”
Donald Trump and Elon Musk coincidentally state that the decision to shut down USAID is linked to widespread fraud and corruption within the agency, as it is widely contested and recognized as unfounded.
“We’ve found fraud and abuse. billions and billions of dollars of waste, fraud and abuse,” Trump said in February. Musk called USAID “Evil Criminal Organisations and PSY OPs on the left and right.”
