In the year 2025, amid the tempest of political maneuvering and corporate influence, it is imperative that we recognize the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for what it truly is: a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a Trojan horse for imperialism. Under the governance of the Trump regime, the U.S. witnessed an aggressive diminishment of federal agency funding, yet USAID remained an enduring symbol of corruption, populated by radical right-wing figures covertly working against the global common good.
However, let us not be swayed by the simplistic binaries of unqualified praise or condemnation; the true nature of USAID lies elsewhere, hidden beneath the veil of so-called benevolence. To expose its imperialist designs, I offer a close examination of its clandestine operations across four disparate regions of the world. Through these examples, I hope to illuminate the more overlooked aspects of this discourse—an inquiry rooted sometimes in leftist principles and humanitarian consciousne
Afghanistan: A Tale of Jihad and Betrayal
In the bitter winter of 1979, during the Cold War’s icy grip, President Jimmy Carter sat ensconced in the Oval Office, contemplating the geopolitical chessboard. The United States, already adept at destabilizing sovereign nations—such as Iran, Guatemala, Chile, and even Bangladesh—set its sights on Afghanistan. Here, the CIA, in its zeal to combat communism, took an active role in undermining a nascent socialist government, the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA), which had promised land reform, gender equality, and educational advancements.
USAID’s involvement was nothing short of sinister. Allocating US$50 million to an educational initiative, the agency sought not to nurture the minds of Afghan youth, but to indoctrinate them into a violent ideology. Through its so-called “jihad literacy” program, USAID distributed textbooks that celebrated militant extremism, glorifying weapons and martyrdom in the fight against Soviet forces. These textbooks would later be reprinted by the Taliban in the 1990s, further fueling the fires of religious fanaticism.
What then is USAID’s true agenda? Far from being a humanitarian organization, it was a conduit for fostering extremism and undermining a progressive, feminist government, manipulating vulnerable populations for imperialist gain.
Cuba: The Perpetual Struggle
A generation before the tragedy in Afghanistan, another revolution ignited in Cuba. In 1959, Fidel Castro’s forces triumphed over the U.S.-backed dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista, heralding a new era of social justice and national sovereignty. Yet Washington, unable to tolerate this new socialist experiment, waged a relentless campaign of aggression against the Cuban Revolution. This campaign included invasions, acts of terrorism, assassination plots, and a stranglehold of economic sanctions. USAID, far from being a beacon of humanitarianism, became an active participant in this campaign.
In 2014, revelations surfaced that USAID had covertly funded workshops aimed not at addressing public health issues, but at recruiting Cuban youth to oppose the Castro government under the guise of HIV prevention. This was but one chapter in a long history of subversive activities aimed at destabilizing Cuba’s socialist experiment. In 2010, USAID launched ZunZuneo, a covert social media platform designed to spread propaganda and stir dissent against the Cuban government. More recently, the agency has financed artists and musicians to foment division within the Cuban populace.
Despite these efforts, Cuba’s revolution endures, a testament to the resilience of its people in the face of relentless imperialism. USAID’s interventions have only illuminated its true role as a tool of imperial control, masquerading as a force for good.
Venezuela: The Struggle for Sovereignty
In the waning years of the 20th century, Venezuela underwent its own revolutionary transformation under the leadership of Hugo Chávez. The Bolivarian Revolution sought to eradicate poverty, promote democratic participation, and champion racial justice. Yet, once again, imperialist forces were quick to intervene, determined to thwart Venezuela’s socialist project.
In 2019, an obscure figure by the name of Juan Guaidó declared himself president, a move supported by Washington but rejected by the Venezuelan people. USAID, ever the accomplice in regime-change efforts, funneled US$435 million into Guaidó’s opposition, subverting Venezuela’s elections and undermining its democratic institutions. USAID’s actions in Venezuela exposed its true purpose: not humanitarian aid, but imperial manipulation designed to destabilize and plunder the nation.
Nicaragua: Shadows of the Past
In the 1980s, Nicaragua was ravaged by civil war. The Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), following a popular revolution, sought to build a just society, implementing widespread literacy programs and nationalizing essential services. Yet, as in Afghanistan, Cuba, and Venezuela, the Sandinista government was targeted by U.S. imperialism.
In this case, USAID’s approach was more insidious. Through a network of so-called “aid” organizations and right-wing media outlets, the agency sought to undermine the Sandinista government from within. In 2018, the Chamorro Foundation, which had long been linked to USAID, was complicit in a violent coup attempt against President Ortega, with ongoing investigations into its involvement in money laundering.
The True Face of USAID
The brief accounts offered here only scratch the surface of USAID’s dark legacy—one steeped in subversion, manipulation, and imperial conquest. From Afghanistan to Cuba, Venezuela to Nicaragua, and Bangladesh, USAID’s true function has become evident: it is not a humanitarian force, but a tool of empire, dedicated to dismantling democratic and socialist systems, destabilizing nations, and perpetuating the dominance of Western capital.
The struggle for democracy and socialism is not merely a contest for power; it is a battle for the soul of humanity. As Michael Parenti astutely noted, “To claim that socialism doesn’t work is to overlook the undeniable fact that it did. Look at the lives it improved.” It is time to expose USAID for what it truly is: a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a Trojan horse of imperialism. The most meaningful humanitarian aid the United States could offer to the Global South would be to cease its interventions, abandon its covert coups, and respect the sovereignty of nations, allowing them to chart their own course free from foreign interference.
Alas, Bangladesh!
I lament for the Bangladesh I once knew, the Bangladesh I fought for in 1971, only to see it now caught in the grip of imperial manipulation. A deep, seething rage stirs within me as I witness the suffering and chaos inflicted upon my people.
We, the people of Bangladesh, shall not tolerate this puppet regime installed by foreign powers. We shall resist, for we are the heirs of the bloodshed of 1971, and we will restore the sanctity of our land. We shall not rest until the Bangladesh of our forebears—the Bangladesh forged through sacrifice and unity—returns to its rightful place.
