Dhaka, Feb. 13 -- Donald Trump's attempt to align foreign aid with his America First policy is too blunt and will have deadly consequences. Rather than simply furthering Washington's interests, the US president's actions may trigger the next debt crisis in the world's poorest countries.

The White House's order to freeze funds disbursed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), pending a 90-day review, may herald a dramatic shift to more transactional giving. Trump demonstrated as much on Monday when he warned he might cut aid to Jordan and Egypt if they refused his demand to take in Palestinians, who would be displaced under the president's plans to take over the Gaza Strip, according to a Reuters report.

It's a...