EU weighs response to drastic US cuts in foreign aid: ‘America First’, developing world last?

Trade, defence and Ukraine are not the only areas in which the EU is facing a massive challenge from the Trump administration. The US president’s « America First » agenda is having a huge impact on the developing world. In March, it was announced that 83 percent of USAID programmes and contracts were being terminated. These programmes « don’t serve US interests », members of the Trump government say. But critics – including some MEPs in Brussels – say the de-funding is costing lives, for example when it comes to treatments for HIV.