Tue Dec 30 22:27:09 UTC 2025: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Trump Administration Prioritizes Bilateral Deals Amidst Foreign Aid Cuts, Signs $480 Million Health Agreement with Ivory Coast
Abidjan, Ivory Coast – The Trump administration has signed a $480 million public health aid agreement with the Ivory Coast, signaling a shift towards bilateral agreements in the face of widespread cuts to US foreign aid. The deal, formalized in Abidjan on Tuesday, represents the largest arrangement under the administration’s “America First Global Health Strategy.”
The administration maintains that this new approach aims to create greater accountability and eventual self-sufficiency, moving away from what they deem an inefficient and wasteful system. U.S. Ambassador to the Ivory Coast, Jessica Davis Ba, stated the agreement marks a move “beyond the traditional aid approach toward a model focused on trade, innovation, and shared prosperity.” As part of the agreement, the Ivory Coast has committed to contributing up to $292 million to health funding by 2030.
While the administration touts the benefits of these bilateral deals, experts are raising concerns about the potential risks and transactional nature of the approach. Deep cuts to USAID earlier this year have already disrupted public health services, particularly in Africa, leading to concerns about the spread of HIV, declines in maternal and child healthcare, and reduced detection of infectious diseases.
A recent analysis by the Center for Global Development highlights the potential for beneficial changes in health assistance delivery but cautions that the rapid implementation of this new strategy could jeopardize hard-won public health gains. Concerns include the potential for “transactional pressures” to shape public health priorities, a lack of clarity on oversight, and the impact on services if partner countries fail to meet their commitments.
Experts also question the strategy’s viability in regions lacking stable governments. The Center for Global Development report noted, “Operationalising a reconfigured approach to US global health assistance…at this scale and speed is unprecedented…each potential point of failure risks lives.”
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