Bangladesh, March 6 -- On January 20, 2025, US President Donald Trump issued an executive order suspending all USAID and State Department-funded projects, amounting to $60 billion, for 90 days. The decision aimed to reassess the effectiveness of foreign aid and align it with the administrations strategic priorities. As a result, nearly 10,000 foreign aid grants and contracts have been abruptly terminated, sending economic and humanitarian shockwaves across countries that have long relied on American assistance. This move has particularly affected nations in the Middle East, North Africa (MENA), and South Asia, raising concerns over regional stability, economic sustainability, and geopolitical realignments.

The United States has historica...