Soft Power, Strong Impact: The Enduring Alliance Between USAID and the U.S. Military
Soft power has been a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy since World War II—from the Marshall Plan’s reconstruction efforts to the global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. These initiatives have promoted global stability, built enduring alliances, and advanced American interests around the world. Central to this strategy was the evolving partnership between the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. military—an interdependence of foreign assistance and defense that lies at the heart of American statecraft. While the military delivers security, stability, and logistical capabilities in conflict zones and disaster areas, USAID complements these efforts by overseeing humanitarian assistance operations, promoting good governance, supporting democratic institutions, and driving long-term economic development through targeted programs and partnerships.
From counterinsurgency operations in Vietnam to postwar reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and from disaster relief in Haiti to health emergencies in West Africa, the enduring partnership between USAID and the U.S. military has been a defining feature of U.S. foreign engagement. Though outcomes have ranged from notable successes to sobering setbacks, these joint efforts reflect a sustained commitment to aligning national security objectives with the pursuit of long-term global stability.
Brief background on USAID
At the height of the Cold War, President John F. Kennedy sought a more focused and efficient strategy to counter the global influence of the Soviet Union through foreign aid. The Soviet Union had been funding and building major industrial and infrastructure projects worldwide—including power plants, dams, railways, factories, hospitals, and schools—with notable examples like the Aswan High Dam in Egypt and the Bhilai Steel Plant in India. Frustrated by what Kennedy saw as the State Department’s cumbersome bureaucracy, he advocated for the creation of a government agency solely dedicated to international development. Following the passage of the Foreign Assistance Act in 1961, USAID was established as an independent government agency. More than six decades later—long after the fall of the Soviet Union — USAID has played a pivotal role in shaping U.S. foreign policy and advancing American interests abroad.
Most recently, USAID has operated in over 100 countries, tackling global challenges in partnership with foreign governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and private organizations. Its efforts go beyond immediate relief, focusing on long-term solutions that foster economic development, strengthen democratic institutions, and improve public health. In fiscal year 2024, USAID had a budget of approximately $21.7 billion. In addition to its own funding, the agency also managed foreign aid resources from other U.S. government departments—such as the Departments of Agriculture and State—bringing its total disbursements to more than $42 billion. The Defense Department’s 2024 budget was $841 billion, while USAID operated on just 2.58% of that— demonstrating the agency’s outsized impact on national security despite its limited resources.
Nation-Building —Not a Dirty Phrase, but a Strategic Imperative
The partnership between USAID and the U.S. military dates back to the Vietnam War in pursuit of shared national security objectives. In 1967, they jointly launched the Civil Operations and Revolutionary Development Support (CORDS) program — a civilian and military initiative aimed at countering insurgencies. Working in close coordination, USAID and the military supported rural development in partnership with the South Vietnamese government, focusing on building infrastructure, providing economic aid, and enhancing village security to help stabilize rural communities and undermine the Viet Cong’s influence. Even though the program was not successful and the broader objectives were not achieved, CORDS marked the beginning of a coordinated partnership between USAID and the U.S. military. It set a precedent for future joint efforts to align development initiatives with national security objectives.
Following the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s, USAID worked closely with the U.S. military in humanitarian relief, reconstruction, and post-war development across the region. The agency provided over $2 billion in emergency aid, including food, shelter, and medical care for refugees and displaced persons. USAID also supported large-scale infrastructure rebuilding, helped establish democratic institutions and civil society, and backed economic revitalization through support for small businesses and market reforms. With support from the U.S. peacekeeping mission, USAID facilitated the return of refugees. By the end of July 2004, approximately 1 million people had returned to their pre-war homes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This figure includes about 440,000 former refugees and 560,000 internally displaced persons. In addition, the U.S. military played a key role in peacekeeping operations and supported efforts to bring war criminals to justice.
After Saddam Hussein’s regime fell in 2003, Congress approved $18.4 billion for the Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund to help rebuild the country. Operating under the oversight of the U.S. Department of State, USAID implemented development initiatives across key sectors such as infrastructure, governance, healthcare, and education. For instance, USAID improved primary education by rebuilding nearly 3,000 schools, providing over 20 million textbooks, training more than 133,000 teachers, and encouraging more interactive teaching—leading to a 19% rise in school enrollment since 2003. Additionally, USAID has helped expand political participation in Iraq by supporting elections at all levels, including the 2005 Constitutional Referendum. This included setting up a voter registration system, training thousands of election monitors, and encouraging public involvement through debates, town halls, and education campaigns. USAID also supported the creation of Iraq’s new constitution by providing expert advice, gathering public feedback through national surveys, and helping groups like the Iraqi Women’s National Coalition contribute to its development.
The U.S. military worked in close coordination with USAID to support reconstruction efforts in Iraq. Amid widespread unrest, they played a vital role in maintaining peace and security. They trained and supplied the Iraqi Army and police so those forces could eventually take over security responsibilities. The military also carried out missions to fight groups like al-Qaeda in Iraq. In addition, the military helped with rebuilding efforts by forming Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs). These teams included both military members and civilian experts, like those from USAID, who worked together to improve local government and support development. This teamwork between military and civilian groups showed a coordinated approach that combined security efforts with rebuilding and promoting democracy in a challenging, post-war environment.
Likewise, in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021, PRTs integrated USAID, the U.S. military, and other government agencies in a combined civil-military effort to strengthen governance, advance development, and enhance security. While some may view foreign security assistance to Afghanistan as a failure—drawing parallels to the outcome of the Vietnam War—there were also significant achievements that emerged from these efforts. Over two decades, USAID played a crucial role in building infrastructure, expanding healthcare, and dramatically increasing educational opportunities, particularly for women and girls. Before U.S. intervention, Afghan women were largely excluded from education, employment, and public life. Through targeted USAID initiatives, millions of girls gained access to schooling for the first time. Many went on to attend university and pursue professional careers, transforming not only their own lives but their communities as well.
These gains were ultimately undermined by the sudden collapse of the U.S.-backed Afghan government, which fell within days—much faster than many in the U.S. government had anticipated, even after two decades of nation-building efforts. Nevertheless, USAID delivered meaningful improvements to individual lives, strengthened societal resilience, and laid the groundwork for future progress that was once unimaginable. Given these complex and challenging circumstances, it would be inaccurate to dismiss the entirety of foreign assistance as a total failure. And while Afghanistan’s future remains uncertain, history offers reminders that nations can change course— Vietnam itself has become a U.S. ally in Asia after decades of conflict, as both countries seek to counter China’s growing influence in the region.
Since 2022, USAID has also been instrumental in addressing the humanitarian crisis aspect of Ukraine’s war efforts. The agency has delivered essential food, medical supplies, and sanitation items while also helping to restore energy infrastructure by providing generators and transformers. To bolster Ukraine’s economy and strengthen its resilience amid ongoing conflict, USAID has committed $250 million to the agricultural sector—a critical industry that not only sustains the country’s food security but also drives exports and economic recovery. Additionally, it has supported education by funding the printing of over 3 million textbooks, ensuring students can continue their studies despite the ongoing conflict.
Crisis Management—More Than Just a Military Responsibility
USAID and the U.S. military often work together to respond to major disasters around the world, combining their unique strengths to deliver timely and effective aid. USAID, through its Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (now part of the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance), leads the civilian response by providing emergency food, shelter, and medical care while coordinating with local and international partners. The U.S. military supports these efforts by leveraging its logistical capabilities, such as airlifting supplies, transporting personnel, and providing engineering and medical support in hard-to-reach areas. Together, they help stabilize disaster zones, save lives, and lay the groundwork for recovery in the aftermath of natural disasters, conflicts, or public health emergencies.
In response to the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, USAID and the U.S. military launched a coordinated humanitarian effort to assist Indonesia and other affected countries. USAID quickly deployed disaster response teams and provided emergency funding for food, water, shelter, and medical care. Meanwhile, the U.S. military initiated Operation Unified Assistance, mobilizing ships, aircraft, and personnel to deliver aid to remote and heavily damaged areas. Helicopters from the USS Abraham Lincoln brought relief supplies to coastal villages cut off by the disaster. Meanwhile, Navy sailors and Marines worked tirelessly on the ground—clearing debris, delivering aid, and setting up emergency shelters. Their coordinated response delivered critical relief and to the devastated communities. This joint response demonstrated the U.S. government’s ability to combine civilian expertise with military logistics and manpower to provide rapid, large-scale humanitarian assistance in times of crisis.
Another excellent example of the partnership is the 2010 Haiti earthquake when the devastating 7.0-magnitude quake displaced more than a million people and severely damaged the country’s infrastructure. The U.S. military launched Operation Unified Responses, deploying over 22,000 personnel to assist in relief efforts. U.S. forces took control of Port-au-Prince’s airport to manage aid flights, helped reopen the damaged seaport, and delivered vital supplies by air and sea. Navy and Marine units provided medical care, cleared debris, restored infrastructure, and supported search-and-rescue missions. The USNS Comfort treated thousands of injured survivors, while military engineers and logistics teams helped stabilize key systems. Working closely with USAID, and in coordination with the UN and various NGOs, the U.S. military played a crucial supporting role in the aftermath of the disaster.
USAID spearheaded extensive reconstruction efforts, funding the rebuilding of hospitals and clinics to restore essential healthcare services. It also improved access to clean water and sanitation systems, reducing the risk of disease outbreaks in temporary settlements. Additionally, USAID supported large-scale housing projects, helping displaced families transition from makeshift camps to secure living conditions. Without USAID’s planning and oversight, many reconstruction projects risk abandonment or falling into disrepair due to poor maintenance—wasting resources and prolonging instability in affected regions.
Perhaps more significantly, USAID and the U.S. military teamed up to tackle the Ebola global health crisis originating in West Africa. In January 2014, Guinea struggled to contain the Ebola virus due to weak healthcare infrastructure, delayed response, and cultural practices that contributed to the rapid spread. As the epidemic worsened, the U.S. government declared a global health emergency in September 2014, prompting the U.S. military to intervene under Operation United Assistance (OUA). The mission focused on providing logistical and medical support, particularly in Liberia, where 3,000 troops were deployed to assist in the response. The military established a field hospital for infected healthcare workers, constructed treatment centers, and provided medical training and logistical support. By early 2015, as the situation improved, the military began scaling down operations, officially ending OUA on April 30, 2015.
USAID’s response to the Ebola outbreak extended beyond immediate crisis management, demonstrating a long-term commitment to strengthening global health security. Through initiatives like the Ebola Grand Challenge, launched in October 2014, USAID advanced protective gear innovations and faster diagnostic tools to improve outbreak response. Its 2015-2016 recovery efforts focused on rebuilding healthcare systems, training health workers, and enhancing disease surveillance across West Africa, ensuring affected regions were better prepared to prevent and respond to future health crises. While the U.S. military played a critical role in halting the outbreak, these short-term, high-impact operations did not align with the long-term strategies required to build sustainable healthcare systems.
The Strategic Role of USAID in U.S. Foreign Policy
History has shown that the strategic partnership between USAID and the U.S. military is a vital component of American foreign policy, advancing humanitarian goals while reinforcing national security. Time and again, USAID has delivered life-saving assistance in some of the world’s most challenging environments. Its longstanding collaboration with the U.S. military highlights how civilian and defense institutions can work together to stabilize fragile states, rebuild critical infrastructure, and promote democratic governance.
Dismantling USAID would not only abandon decades of global leadership but also severely undermine America’s ability to compete on the world stage. As adversaries like China, Russia, and Iran increasingly expand their soft power—investing in infrastructure, spreading state-controlled media narratives, and propping up authoritarian regimes often hostile to U.S. interests—America cannot afford to divest the very instruments that have long advanced its values and strategic influence. In a world marked by instability, public health crises, and intensifying geopolitical competition, preserving and strengthening USAID isn’t just sound policy—it’s essential to maintaining U.S. leadership and global credibility.
Author’s Note
During my research for this article, I uncovered a deeply alarming reality—references from USAID websites have been systematically erased. These crucial records and vital information, once publicly accessible, have vanished, leaving behind only fragmented traces in Google’s cached pages and indexed results. This isn’t just an academic concern—it appears to be a deliberate attempt to erase a crucial part of USAID history. The invaluable contributions and humanitarian efforts that USAID has carried out for years are being scrubbed from public record, raising urgent questions about transparency, accountability, and the manipulation of historical truth. I urge you to see for yourself—visit any USAID website and witness what has disappeared or is simply ‘Not Found.’
Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not reflect the official policy, position, or endorsement of any organization, agency, or institution. Any references to organizations, agencies, or events are for informational purposes only and do not imply their approval or support of the content herein.
