How Japan could benefit from demise of USAID at Elon Musk's hands
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It should leverage the soft power it has cultivated for years in Asia
Both U.S. President Donald Trump, right, and billionaire Elon Musk have expressed skepticism toward foreign aid, but they may be underestimating its value and effectiveness in global politics. © Reuters
TORU TAKAHASHI
TOKYO -- In just four months at the helm of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) through May, tech billionaire Elon Musk inflicted serious damage on key government agencies and undermined broader U.S. strategic interests.
Among the most consequential moves was the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), long a cornerstone of American engagement with the developing world.
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