Foreign Assistance in an Era of Strategic Competition

Speaker: Dan Cederberg (U.S. Department of State)

Date: 23 May 2024

Speaker Session Summary

China is the only modern-day US competitor with both the intent and the capability to challenge the United States politically, militarily, and economically. One significant avenue of political competition is foreign financial aid to developing countries. Between 2000 and 2021, China provided approximately 1.3 trillion USD in aid to developing nations to enhance its geopolitical influence. Mr. Cederberg emphasized that despite the substantial amount of Chinese aid, the United States remains the preferred development partner for most countries. Many nations are open to receiving financial assistance from both the US and China but prefer not to be entangled in geopolitical rivalry. 

The United States has several strategic advantages over China, including a vast network of allied and partner states that support the same liberal democratic world order. Mr. Cederberg suggested that the US should be selective in choosing where to confront China, acknowledging the risk of Chinese mission creep. He noted that US and US-partner initiatives should be synergistic and mutually reinforcing to maximize their effectiveness. These initiatives include supply chain diversification, providing alternative financing, increasing transparency in procurement avenues, and combating transnational repression against independent news agencies and countries’ citizens. Mr. Cederberg emphasized that despite these efforts, China will remain a formidable geopolitical and financial competitor for decades to come.  

Speaker Session Recording

Audio of this recording is available on SMA Channel on Intelink iVideo. Email mariah.c.yager.ctr@mail.mil for access information.

Briefing Materials

Biography: Daniel Cederberg is the Director of the Regional China Officer (RCO) Program at the U.S. Department of State.  In this role, he advises Washington D.C., regional embassies, and U.S. partners on how to understand Chinese activities globally.  He was previously posted in Abu Dhabi as a Regional China Officer himself covering the Near East and Western Asia.  He has also served in Qatar, Mexico, and China.  Prior to joining the State Department, Daniel worked as a Senior Analyst at the Advisory Board Company in Washington, D.C.