Saeed Baroud

This study explores the role of foreign aid as a soft power tool by providing an understanding of the interrelation between foreign policy and aid. The study is based on interviews with aid experts. The findings of the study unambiguously demonstrate that aid and foreign policy are intertwined since, in most cases, foreign aid falls under the responsibility of foreign ministries. Besides the humanitarian imperative, the geopolitical account has a crucial importance in the decision-making process that cascades down from the general foreign policy agenda. In addition, the strategic interests of the donor country are contributing to the decision-making. The prominent themes are national security, tackling terrorism, preventing immigration influx, and economic goals. The study also demonstrates the extent to which aid can be politicized in its extreme form by focusing on Russian vetoes in the UN Security Council and the Syrian government’s weaponization of aid.