Soft power in international relations and diplomacy, as I understand it, is a power (or tactic, if you will) that is utilized by global powers, in the US’s case, superpower, to gain favor with a great number of countries around the world that the US, quite possibly, would otherwise have little to no interaction with. Favor is gained through attractive measures (not coercion) such as targeting a program or initiative in that foreign country that the US would like to assist. In theory, this program aligns with traditional American principles on the world stage; bringing a democratic political process to countries without it; protecting the rights of all people regardless of age, sex, race, or sexual orientation; an elimination or drastic decrease of diseases via vaccines or simple mosquito nets; maternal health in poverty-stricken or war-torn countries; or sharing best practices when it comes to environmental protection or conservation. That is to name just a few of the just causes the US has pursued since the founding of USAID in 1961 by then President Kennedy.

Prior to USAID, the idea of international development assistance was proposed by President Harry S. Truman, with the initial goals of, “Creating markets for the United States by reducing poverty and increasing production in developing countries.” And, “Diminishing the threat of communism by helping countries prosper under capitalism.” In decades since, USAID shifted to prioritize a wide variety of areas from population planning, education, to stabilizing currencies and financial systems, and ending extreme poverty.

It is from our international cooperation with countries receiving USAID packages that the US has built a vast array of allies throughout the globe. Countries, and other populations helped, recognize the US as a friend and, rightfully, have come to believe that we are interested in building up other nations, no matter where they are on the map. Up until two weeks ago, we have aided many nations with significant undertakings as well as countries with minor projects and initiatives.

The bond between America and these foreign partners is decades old and its strength invaluable to our stance as a global superpower. Other nations vying for global prominence, or dominance, have limited opportunity for advancement with the governments and people USAID has worked with for decades. The importance of a foreign country’s loyalty and trust in the US cannot be emphasized enough. This is soft power. Far cheaper and safer than hard power. And, many would argue, more effective.

Desperate as these populations are, when USAID, its employees, and its funding disappear in a week, they will naturally turn to other powers for myriad reasons. Standing at the ready, China and Russia, eager to fill the power vacuum and more than happy to take the place of the United States, will offer aid in their own way. It may not be the way the US was helping, but it will be enough for us to lose our status. Friendships will weaken, or worse, disappear. Protected environments will flounder and be drained of their resources. And when one of these countries has an emergency, someone will pick up the phone and dial China because right now Trump, his voters, and the Republican party aren’t answering the call from the weary, from the burdened, or from the poor. How much damage will be done remains to be seen. As a friend recently told me, this is “the start of a huge crack in all that is good.”