On the panel of speakers for today’s meeting are: Olivia O’Sullivan, Director of the UK in the World Programme; Baroness Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President, European Commission (2009-14); Major-General James Cowan, Chief Executive Officer, The Halo Trust and ç, Former UK Secretary of State for International Development (1997-2003).
This meeting is analysing the position of the United Kingdom in terms of its Aid budget in a critical time for global aid. Over the past year there have been massive cuts in foreign aid, especially accenuated by the withdrawal of USAID by the Trump administration. There is funding scarcity and institutional uncertainty.
There are security and geopolitical repercussions that are being closely analysed and watched by Chatham House. Changing patterns of aid redistribution means that the most fragile States are those affected. Peace-building and conflict resolution are affected. Containing infectious diseases and monitoring climate change risks are affected. Russia and China are unlikely to fill the funding gaps due to Western retreats but are, however, likely to step into the gap left politically in order to build better ties with those countries that are affected.
Major-General James Cowan has done a lot of work in conflict zones, having been a long-term soldier in the British Army. His organization, The Halo Trust, has seen dramatic changes since the mass withdrawal of Aid. He deals a lot with removing landlines and also urban bomb disposal. He is doing a lot of work in the Gaza conflict. Syria faces massive reconstruction problems if it cannot get rid of the bombs. Halo Trust also works on weapon control. When Trump came to power immediately one third of their funding ceased. Halo managed to persuade the USA to restore funding, however, though as they are essential to US interests. He is worrying about the foreign secretary withdrawing British Government Aid to Halo Trust. HAlo Trust is a British NGO. 12000 employees are likely to be cut to around 7000 by next year. If conflict is not addressed then our world will fall apart.
Baroness Catherine Ashton speaks next and talks about the Russia-Ukraine conflict. A lot of countries made clear that they were not all going to jump onto the bandwagon of the West. There are a lot of coups in Africa etc that the West has lost interest in. Ongoing relations with Global South countries who are not necessarily going to turn to Europe and the USA as immediate sponsors are affected by Aid budgets. A problem that takes decades to evolve cannot necessarily be solved in a year or two. For example, Somalia. Aid is not just about giving money. It is about opportunities that are provided for normal life. Problems that begin somewhere do not stay somewhere but move and become more expensive without initial investment. WHen a vacuum is create politically others step in and this has happened across Africa. Geopolitical consequences are clear – AId is about our future as well as for the people we support.
Clare Short reflects on the collapse, post WW2, of global institutions. We have to go back to what we used to do. Conflict resolution is not going well. Clare feels that the U.K. has lost a lot of reputation and is being seen as a poodle for the US. The United Kingdom used to have a very good reputation for foreign aid. We can’t be a leading military player any more but could be a much more significant player in terms of resolving conflict and providing aid and supporting the Global South. We besmirch ourselves by standing alongside the Americans in many ways. We are likely to end up having more trouble here. Without development and progress, Africa, which will be the most populous continent by 2050 – what will the situation be like there? China will become more influential in Africa. The United Nations has been undermined and isn’t resolving conflicts successfully. She says that ultimately there will be a recommitment to development but there will be problems in the interim period. It could be an answer to work with countries like Brazil, who are emerging powers on the world stage.
Baroness Catherine Ashton is addressed with regard to her knowledge of the European Union. The way Brussels operates is an enigma and is slow and difficult. The War in Ukraine has affected how the EU thinks. There is a war in Europe and it requires EU support. It is a difficult conflict to resolve. With USAID disappearing many countries are expecting the EU to pick up the slack. People want their domestic situations sorted and often cannot relate foreign aid with directly assisting them. The link between development, defense and everything else – hard power, soft power spectrum cannot be broken into chunks. It is one spectrum. There is invisibility in military and foreign aid spending and actions. The use of polling to make political decisions throws up unwanted, irrational results.
Major-General James Cowan was commanding Black Rock in Iraq in 2004, heading for Fallujah. To cut aid meant to a US Commander that he would need to buy more bullets. In Syria now, he is glad to see a man of war – ie. the new leader, run into a man of peace. He has been to Afghanistan as a guest of the Taliban. The Halo Trust is clearing land for Afghans to live and has provided space for 4000 people to resettle. £2.5 million spent by U.K. government provides working and living conditions in Afghanistan for about 4 million people. How does the spending on immigrant hotels compare with this minimal foreign aid spending that has a much more significant impact?
The government needs to lead and not work by focus group. How can we make our government listen and act? There is a plan for 20% cuts across the board in United Nations Institutions. How can the political case be corrected with regard to aid, both domestically and internationally? The UN is being bashed but Clare Short thinks that it will not be destroyed and will come back to strength. Poverty was reduced but that is now being thrown away. There needs to be an international framework for the world to function properly and the UN is a core institution. Institutions are often like big tankers at sea and get rust and need a new coat of paint. Strategy and vision needs to be made for the next 50 years. Does the Security council need to expand? The Global South are demanding a more powerful voice. James Cowan feels that the UN is stuck in a post-1989 pre-2010 world and needs to reassess and rethink strategy and goals. We live in an age of conflict and we need peaceful solutions. The emerging economies can be looked to for resources to assist. He feels that the UNited Nations is highly bureaucratic and expensive. The Halo Trust is British and effective and this should be recognized and supported and funded.
In the EU when resources between 28 members are combined, it becomes a lot more effective. A comprehensive approach is necessary. Somali pirates were combated in this way. Young, teenage boys were being offered easy money to sign up. They needed opportunities instead of this. People in developed countries are a bit sick of charities and aren’t fussed on the old order. They want their own governments to step up.
What will happen to U.K. soft power if foreign aid is diminished?
In our country we have to have trust in the end of conflict and that peace can be found.
A question is asked from the audience with regard to the role of women and girls and how their rights should be supported. Poverty is a driving force and affects developing nations. The education of girls must be supported. Slow progress is being made. Soft power affects many things. A stable and secure world is required in order to have a stable and secure country. One must look outward as well as looking inward. Our soft power is diminishing. Once it is lost we shall probably try to rediscover it.
Clare Short says that spending on our military and preparing for a possible war with China is not in our best interests. We need a better relationship with Europe. Our economy needs to improve. With Brexit we lost 4% of our GDP. We spend 1% on Space and get 5% back. This is a good area of investment in order to grow the economy. Britain has an inability to decide on a continental strategy or a bluewater, more imperial strategy. We don’t need to projecting military power in the Pacific. We should promote our power in Europe. We don’t want to become ‘Little Britain.’
The cuts in foreign aid, I believe, are symptomatic of a wider lurch towards nationalism and sensational rightist, populist politics that focus on selfish, xenophobic ideologies. Investment on foreign aid should be a future government priority and needs to improve.
Leave a comment