How America's retreat from foreign aid is changing the world | GZERO World with Ian Bremmer

The global humanitarian aid system faces a critical decline as major donors, particularly the United States, significantly reduce their financial commitments. This retreat leaves a dangerous vacuum in conflict-affected regions, where the absence of essential services like healthcare, sanitation, and education exacerbates crises in places like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and Ukraine. While public support for aid remains robust, political confusion and misinformation regarding budget allocations hinder effective action. David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, emphasizes that foreign aid serves as a vital, cost-effective investment in global stability and security rather than mere charity. As traditional anchors like the U.S. pull back, middle powers and the European Union must coordinate more effectively to address growing humanitarian needs, as the failure to sustain vulnerable populations inevitably leads to broader geopolitical instability and the spread of conflict.