Leading analysts, politicians, diplomats, and strategic affairs experts across India and its neighboring countries have come forward in support of US President Donald Trump’s remarks questioning the Biden administration’s decision to allocate millions of dollars through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for electoral and governance initiatives in South Asia. Trump took particular issue with $21 million directed towards increasing voter turnout in India, $29 million aimed at “strengthening the political landscape in Bangladesh,” and $20 million for “fiscal federalism” in Nepal.
Trump Questions USAID’s Spending in India
Speaking at the FII Priority Summit in Miami, Trump expressed strong disapproval of USAID’s funding decisions. “Why do we need to spend $21 million on voter turnout in India? I guess they were trying to get somebody else elected. We have got to tell the Indian Government… This is a total breakthrough,” he asserted.
This marks the second time in less than 24 hours that Trump has publicly criticized the previous US administration for what he perceives as interference in Indian elections.
“All of these scams have now been terminated. Over the past month, we have effectively eliminated the US Agency for International Development, USAID, which was funding much of this lunacy. We shut down the out-of-control CFPB… What they were doing was so terrible, where they were sending the money was terrible. What we haven’t looked at yet is: did the money come back to them? We’ll figure that out pretty easily and quickly,” Trump added.
Earlier, during an address at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump had voiced similar concerns regarding the $21 million grant for voter turnout in India.
“Why are we giving $21 million to India? They got a lot more money. They are one of the highest taxing countries in the world in terms of us; we can hardly get in there because their tariffs are so high. I have a lot of respect for India and their Prime Minister, but giving $21 million for voter turnout? In India? What about voter turnout here?” he said.
Elon Musk-Led DOGE Cancels USAID Funding
On February 16, the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, announced the cancellation of the controversial $21 million grant to India, citing it among a list of foreign aid programs deemed excessive or unnecessary.
“US taxpayer dollars were going to be spent on the following items, all of which have been cancelled,” read the official statement from DOGE. The statement also detailed the termination of other international aid initiatives, including $29 million for “strengthening the political landscape in Bangladesh” and $39 million earmarked for “fiscal federalism” and “biodiversity conservation” in Nepal.
Former Indian Ambassador Anil Trigunayat weighed in on the matter, stating that foreign, particularly Western, interference in India’s electoral process has been a long-standing issue.
“It has been known to everyone that foreign, especially Western, intervention in India’s election process is not uncommon. $21 million by disbanded USAID is only the tip of the iceberg. Fortunately, the politically savvy Indian electorate is far too smart for them,” Trigunayat posted on X.
USAID’s Role in Bangladesh Under Scrutiny
Further controversy surrounds USAID’s activities in Bangladesh, particularly during the Biden administration. Allegations have emerged suggesting its involvement in attempts to undermine the Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina in August last year. Following Trump’s decision, all USAID aid programs in Bangladesh have now been suspended.
“At the political level, in light of the Trump administration’s measures, questions have arisen about the role the Biden administration played in engineering regime change in Bangladesh in August last year. Visits to Dhaka by Donald Lu and other senior American officials raised suspicion. The suspicions now appear to have been grounded in reality. Bangladesh today struggles to have stability restored in its socio-political landscape,” noted Syed Badrul Ahsan, a prominent Bangladeshi journalist, historian, and political analyst, in a conversation with IANS.
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, a Dhaka-based counter-terrorism expert, praised Trump for taking a firm stance against what he described as the “deliberate destabilization” of Bangladesh under the guise of democracy-building.
“Onwards, the Trump administration should investigate the matter, including the notorious role played by Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George and Alex Soros, and Bill and Hillary Clinton in pushing Bangladesh into the grips of Islamists, jihadists, and looters,” Choudhury posted on X.
USAID and the “Deep State” Allegations
Atul Aneja, a strategic affairs analyst, suggested that USAID has long been a vehicle for deep-state interference, targeting sovereign governments perceived as strong and independent.
“USAID has been the front end of the US deep state, whose goal was to destabilize strong sovereign governments by mostly funding overseas NGOs that engage in dividing host nations on the lines of ethnicity, caste, gender, and promotion of woke culture,” Aneja told IANS.
BJP Slams Opposition Over USAID Funding
Following the DOGE announcement, India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongly criticized the opposition Congress party over the USAID grant, claiming it amounted to “external interference in India’s electoral process.”
“$21M for voter turnout? This definitely is external interference in India’s electoral process. Who gains from this? Not the ruling party for sure!” BJP leader Amit Malviya said.
Malviya also linked the funding initiative to broader concerns about foreign influence on Indian institutions. He accused Hungarian-born US financier George Soros of attempting to manipulate domestic politics through his Open Society Foundations, an allegation that has been echoed by political leaders in various parts of the world.
“Once again, it is George Soros, a known associate of the Congress party and the Gandhis, whose shadow looms over our electoral process,” Malviya asserted.
