US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Photo: Media Punch
For the first time in a decade, the United States has officially announced a change of course in global humanitarian policy. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio made it clear in Brussels: America will no longer be the main donor in the fight against global disasters, Reuters reports.
“We are not the government of the world. We will provide assistance like everyone else, but our resources are not unlimited. We have other needs,” Rubio told reporters.
What does this mean?
Washington is officially winding down its role as the main sponsor of humanitarian missions around the world, which it has played for years. Instead of the 60-70% of global aid traditionally funded by the US, other rich countries are now expected to contribute.
Rubio directly called on China, India, and the G20 countries to “take more responsibility”. According to the Secretary of State, amid the growing US national debt and domestic social challenges, Washington’s priorities are changing.
The example of Myanmar:
In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Myanmar, the United States provided only $2 million in aid and promised to send three experts. This is strikingly less than the large-scale operations that the United States has conducted in previous crises, from Haiti to Indonesia.
However, this new strategy raises concerns among international humanitarian organisations, as the world remains vulnerable to disasters, and there are few donors of such power as the United States.
