US foreign aid has long been essential for Eastern Europe, but President Donald Trump's abrupt freeze on these funds is causing significant disruptions in the region, reports AP.
Pro-democracy groups, independent media, civil society initiatives, and local governments are scrambling to cope with the sudden loss of financial support in an area traditionally shaped by rivalries between the East and West.
Trump's executive order suspends US funding for all aid programs around the world
The U.S. State Department stated that the 90-day freeze aims to eliminate waste and stop what it considers "woke" programmes, focusing on U.S.-funded activities that conflict with American national interests—part of Trump's "America First" agenda.
The freeze has raised concerns about increasing influence from Russia and China in a region historically caught in the geopolitical struggle between the West, Moscow, and Beijing. Many fear that the loss of U.S. funding could leave a vacuum that adversaries could exploit.
Oxana Greadcenco, the director of the independent media platform Moldova.org, explains that foreign donor support, particularly from the U.S., is critical for balancing the media landscape in Moldova, where many media outlets are funded by Russia. USAID grants to her platform ended on January 24, with no remaining funds allowed to be used. In response, Greadcenco has turned to an online fundraising campaign to ensure salaries for her 16-person team until March. She expressed shock at the extent of the cutbacks, which had a far greater impact than anticipated.
Since the 1990s, USAID has invested billions in former communist countries like Moldova, Serbia, Albania, Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina—nations that aspire to join the European Union. U.S. aid has supported democratic reforms, infrastructure and energy projects, business development, and numerous independent media platforms.
Valeriu Pasa, chairman of Moldova's WatchDog think tank, emphasized that the country owes much of its democratic progress to U.S. financial support, which has helped keep it from becoming aligned with Russia or China.
The freeze is affecting various sectors. Sytrime Dervisholi, the executive director of the Prefabricated Construction Association of Kosovo, warned that halting USAID funds would hinder their ability to provide vocational training and grants to member companies. Similarly, Safet Gerxhaliu, an economic analyst in Kosovo, expressed concern that the freeze could negatively impact the country's government, private sector, and education system.
Trump suspends US foreign aid for 90 days
In Serbia, the freeze threatens progress in areas such as public finance reform, as highlighted by Nemanja Nenadic from Transparency International, whose USAID-funded project has been postponed.
In Moldova, the Promo-LEX Association, a key pro-democracy NGO, relies on USAID funding for about 75-80% of its projects, including election monitoring and political oversight. Executive director Ion Manole stated that without alternative support, these vital activities may not continue at the same scale, jeopardizing the transparency of future elections, especially in light of Russian interference. Moldova's upcoming parliamentary election is seen as crucial for the country's European integration, and without resources, the organization may struggle to monitor foreign meddling effectively.
Cristian Cantir, an international relations expert at Oakland University in Moldova, warned that suspending aid provides Russia with an opportunity to exploit Moldova's vulnerabilities and hinder its EU integration. Cutting funds to independent media also weakens Moldova’s sovereignty by making it harder to hold corrupt politicians accountable.
The Trump administration frames the aid freeze as an effort to ensure accountability in U.S. spending abroad. The U.S. spends about $40 billion annually on foreign aid, with much of it supporting Ukraine in recent years.
Greadcenco remains hopeful that other international partners might step in to fill the gap. She fears that if the freeze continues, it could severely affect Moldova's stability and future.