Former ambassador says Ukraine victory is key to countering China, Russia

Former U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation successful Europe (OSCE) James Gilmore is urging the Trump medication to repurpose funds chopped from USAID to antagonistic the increasing planetary power of China and Russia.

Gilmore agrees with President Donald Trump that making cuts to overseas backing requires a "scalpel, not a hatchet," but asserts that much tin beryllium done to strategically betterment overseas aid.

"The decisions we marque contiguous volition make the satellite of tomorrow. If we commencement by abandoning overseas assistance, that caller satellite volition beryllium tally by China and our adversaries," Gilmore told Fox News Digital. "Now much than ever, the U.S. needs to physique up our subject and nationalist information spot portion deploying a robust ‘soft’ powerfulness strategy and governmental inaugural to antagonistic China and Russia's increasing planetary influence."  

Left to right: Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping (Reuters)

PETE MAROCCO, MASTERMIND BEHIND DISMANTLING OF USAID PROJECTS, LEAVES STATE DEPARTMENT

However, Gilmore stressed successful a caller op-ed that "every dollar" of overseas assistance indispensable marque America safer and stronger, and align with U.S. nationalist strategy. He views assistance spent successful this mode arsenic an investment.

Additionally, Gilmore told Fox News Digital that helium is acrophobic astir rising isolationism among Republicans, particularly arsenic America’s adversaries usage soft-power tactics to dispersed their influence.

"When America pulls backmost from planetary leadership, instability blooms, and our enemies instrumentality advantage," Gilmore warned successful his op-ed, adding that successful the lack of American enactment "weak states go breeding grounds for coercion and cause cartels."

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin shingle hands aft jointly signing a Joint Statement of the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation connected Deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Coordination for the New Era and a Joint Statement of the President of the People's Republic of China and the President of the Russian Federation connected Pre-2030 Development Plan connected Priorities successful China-Russia Economic Cooperation successful Moscow, Russia, March 21, 2023. Xi connected Tuesday held talks with Putin astatine the Kremlin successful Moscow.  (Xie Huanchi/Xinhua via Getty Images)

FORMER USAID OFFICIAL WARNS CHINA IS ALREADY LOOKING TO FILL VOID LEFT BY PAUSED PROGRAMS

Both China and Russia person invested successful economical improvement efforts successful caller years, peculiarly successful Africa. The continent took a large deed erstwhile respective USAID programs, including those aimed astatine combating hunger and disease, were unopen down.

In February 2024, Russia claimed to person sent much than 220,000 tons of escaped atom to six African nations, according to Reuters.

A fewer months later, successful November 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin offered Africa his country’s "total support" successful warring coercion and extremism, the BBC reported. 

China has besides made large investments successful economical improvement crossed the globe. According to a 2024 study from the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, China has accrued its improvement spending by 525% implicit the past 15 years.

In September 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged $51 cardinal successful backing implicit the people of 3 years, Reuters reported. 

Ukrainian worker exits the compartment of the DS3 artillery arsenic the Russia-Ukraine warfare continues, successful the absorption of Niu York, Ukraine, 5 March 2025. ((Photo by Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images))

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Gilmore told Fox News Digital that the cardinal to countering Chinese and Russian aggression is triumph successful Ukraine. He views the ongoing warfare arsenic a "pivot to the future," and said the U.S. cannot fto Russia win.

"Ukraine is connected the frontline of a caller planetary warfare betwixt democracies and authoritarian regimes that is being waged with some subject and brushed power," Gilmore told Fox News Digital.

"If Ukraine is conquered by force, Putin volition proceed his semipermanent extremity of reassembling the Russian empire, and compromising the safety, independency and of Europe, and situation Europe's relationship with the U.S.  A decision of Ukraine volition necessitate much concern of resources to support our allies."