Rethinking U.S. Foreign Assistance in a New Era | SID-US 2026 Annual Conference

​The Shift from Soft Power to Reciprocal Economic Statecraft: Rethinking U.S. Foreign Assistance in a New Era | SID-US 2026 Annual Conference ​U.S. foreign assistance is undergoing a major transformation. Historically, foreign aid—rooted in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961--has been grounded in a soft‑power approach that supports economic and social development abroad to advance U.S. foreign policy and security interests. Today, however, the orientation of U.S. foreign assistance is shifting sharply toward economic statecraft, reciprocity, and “trade, not aid.” Foreign assistance from the U.S. Government is increasingly framed as a tool for advancing U.S. commercial and strategic interests through bilateral economic engagement. This panel will discuss what this shift means for global development and partner countries. By addressing potential problems, this panel will explore approaches to achieve the spirit and intent of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961in this new era of economic statecraft. Speakers: Eric Bjornlund, Founder and CEO, Democracy International Jim Kunder, Affiliated Expert, Lugar Center, & Steering Committee, MFAN ​Nathaniel Soule, Executive Director, Campaign for America First International Assistance (CAFIA)​ Moderator: Gloria Steele, Chair, DevelopMetrics & SID-US Board Member