Opinion | Trump’s erratic policies are wrecking US soft power, to China’s benefit

For decades, the United States has shaped global affairs not merely through military and economic might but through persuasion – its ability to build alliances, inspire trust and project stability. However, the Trump administration’s policies reflect a retreat from this strategy. As Beijing continuously expands its global influence, Washington is squandering one of its last strategic advantages.

Soft power has long been a cornerstone of US leadership. A nation’s strength is not measured solely in military or economic terms but in its capacity to attract and persuade.

When a country weakens its soft power, whether through erratic foreign policy, disengagement from global affairs or eroding trust among allies, it hastens its own decline. Nowhere is this erosion more evident than in President Donald Trump’s handling of foreign aid, an essential instrument for fostering stability, strengthening alliances and maintaining US influence.

This administration’s view is that foreign aid is wasteful, and it prefers these resources to be allocated domestically. In 2023, the US spent nearly US$72 billion on foreign aid, a small fraction of its budget of around US$6.1 trillion. It’s a small investment, considering the dividends it pays in preventing failed states from becoming breeding grounds for extremism and reinforcing America’s reputation as a reliable partner.

The administration’s abrupt decision to freeze much of this aid, coupled with a drastic overhaul of the US Agency for International Development, marks a sharp and sudden departure from this tradition.