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Full screen Minister Benjamin Dousa (M). File image. Photo: Anders Wiklund/TT
In one hand, the US aid authority shut down USAID.
The Swedish page is now investigating the consequences the American decision can have, says Minister of Debt Benjamin Dousa (M).
During the night until Monday, US President Donald Trump’s “efficiency chief” Elon Musk announces that USAID would be booming again-a message followed by immediate action such as closed websites and social media accounts as well as staff who were denied going to work.
“The United States is the world’s single largest donor of development assistance and a closure of USAID would of course have very major consequences globally,” said Benjamin Dousa (M).
Dousa emphasizes that Trump has already announced that the United States will stop all US aid for 90 days. Trump has also said that one should reintroduce what is called “Mexico City Policy” – which stops federal American assistance to foreign organizations working on abortion issues.
However, Dousa says that it is “gratifying” that Foreign Minister Marco Rubio has made an exception for humanitarian food assistance, life -saving drugs and protection. But if “Mexico City Policy” is introduced, it becomes “a major concern for Sweden” as the government prioritizes issues such as global equality, maternity care and contraceptives, says Dousa.
The Swedish Assistance Authority Sida and USAID cooperates in different ways.
– Sida is currently inventing if there are some individual projects that risk being trapped on the basis of this line of decisions from the US administration in the short term, says Dousa.
He further states that civilian support for Ukraine – in, among other things, mine clearance – is an area that Sweden follows with special interest.