US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has dismissed criticism surrounding the United States’ response to the devastating earthquake in Myanmar, which has claimed more than 3,000 lives. The criticism stems from the accusation that the US was unable to assist effectively due to the closure of its humanitarian aid agency, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), during the Trump administration. Former USAID officials claim the agency’s dismantling left the US unable to deploy rescue teams, including sniffer dogs, in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.
Rubio, speaking to the BBC, responded to the allegations by stating that the US is not “the government of the world.” He emphasized that while the US plays a role in global humanitarian efforts, it must balance such work with other national priorities. “There are a lot of other rich countries in the world, they should all be pitching in,” Rubio remarked, pointing out that nations like China and India were among the first to provide aid to Myanmar.
Despite the challenges, Rubio reassured that the US was committed to offering assistance. He noted that a small team of advisors had already been deployed to the region, with more support planned. However, he placed part of the blame for limited access on Myanmar’s military junta, which has a hostile stance toward foreign intervention.
The former USAID officials highlighted that the agency’s role in disaster response is non-political, with previous successful deployments to politically hostile nations. Rubio, however, dismissed these claims, arguing that humanitarian organizations benefiting from US taxpayer money were inefficient and that the US would no longer fund global NGOs in the same way.
As the humanitarian crisis unfolds in Myanmar, Rubio’s comments underscore the complex balancing act of US foreign aid policy, while urging other nations to step up their contributions to the relief effort.
