CHISINAU, Moldova — The sudden suspension of foreign aid from the United States is causing significant concern in Eastern Europe, where pro-democracy organizations, independent media outlets, community initiatives, and local authorities struggle to adjust in a politically divided region. The U.S. State Department explained that this 90-day aid freeze is intended to eliminate wasteful spending and reject certain liberal initiatives that are perceived to contradict American interests, a move aligned with Trump’s “America First” strategy.
Many observers have raised alarms about the potential for increased influence from Russia and China in the region. Eastern Europe has long been a stage for geopolitical struggles, where Western policies frequently clash with the aims of Moscow and Beijing. The halt in U.S. financial support raises fears that allies might become vulnerable, leading to a power vacuum that adversarial nations would be eager to exploit.
In Moldova, the freeze on foreign aid is particularly concerning, as emphasized by Oxana Greadcenco, director of the independent media site Moldova.org. “Support from foreign donors is crucial for maintaining a balanced media landscape,” she stated. Many media sources in the country are funded by Russia, and without U.S. backing, it creates a severe imbalance. Greadcenco highlighted the unprecedented nature of this situation but noted their commitment to remain calm.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has officially ended its grants as of January 24, impacting the ability of organizations like Greadcenco’s to utilize leftover funds. She has turned to an online crowdfunding campaign, which successfully gathered 135 new backers in just two days, sufficient to sustain the salaries of their 16 staff members until March.
“This far-reaching financial cut comes as a shock to many of us in Moldova,” she continued. “We had anticipated only a partial reduction in aid, but the reality is stark. The extent to which Moldova relies on U.S. funding spans beyond NGOs and the media, extending to local municipalities and public institutions.”
Since the end of communism in the 1990s, USAID has channeled billions of dollars into several Eastern European countries, including Moldova, Serbia, Albania, Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, all of which have sought European Union membership. This funding has been pivotal in fostering democracy, infrastructure development, energy security, economic growth, and independent media.
Valeriu Pasa, chairman of the Chisinau-based think tank WatchDog, remarked that the level of democracy experienced in Moldova is, in part, attributable to the financial support from the U.S. He also asserted that American interests align with a more democratic and developed Moldova, safeguarding it from becoming a puppet state of Russian or Chinese influence.
The implications of the USAID funding freeze are evident across a multitude of sectors. For example, Sytrime Dervisholi, director of the Prefabricated Construction Association of Kosovo, expressed concerns about her organization’s ability to assist its members with necessary vocational training and access to grants. “Kosovo relies heavily on foreign aid, primarily from the U.S. We sincerely hope that this freeze is lifted after the 90-day evaluation,” she said.
Safet Gerxhaliu, an independent economic analyst in Kosovo, echoed these sentiments, warning that the USAID suspension could have dire consequences for Kosovo’s societal structures and governmental effectiveness, especially as it faces sanctions from the European Union due to ethnic tensions.
Serbia, which gained EU candidate status in 2012, remains a critical ally for Russia and China in Europe. Under the leadership of populist President Aleksandar Vucic, necessary reforms have seen little progress, and the USAID funding suspension poses additional risks to their development efforts.
Many organizations relying on USAID, like Promo-LEX in Moldova, have expressed alarm at the suspension of funds. This NGO, focusing on democracy and human rights, relies on U.S. assistance for 75-80% of its projects, including monitoring elections and public financing. Ion Manole, its executive director, noted that without funding, their essential services could suffer significantly. Moldova is preparing for a critical parliamentary election, following allegations of Russian interference in past votes,
“Without funding, we are unable to monitor elections effectively or track foreign meddling, which can gravely impact Moldova’s trajectory towards the EU and could destabilize the broader Eastern European region,” Manole warned. He mentioned that they are actively seeking alternative funding from European partners yet remain hopeful for the return of U.S. support.
Additionally, Cristian Cantir, an associate professor of international relations, cautioned that the cessation of aid could provide Russia with the opportunity to exploit Moldova’s vulnerabilities and derail its efforts toward EU integration. “A lack of support for independent media hinders accountability and strengthens the influence of corrupt politicians,” he added.
The Trump administration has framed the aid freeze as a necessary push for accountability regarding how U.S. funds are spent internationally, highlighting that, aside from Ukraine aid, the country allocates nearly $40 billion annually for foreign assistance. Greadcenco emphasized the importance of these funds for Moldova’s stability and warned of the dire consequences if support ceases entirely. “These funds are essential for our survival as a nation. The implications of such a loss are frightening,” she stated.
