China steps in as US pulls back from diplomacy: report
The report, the result of months of staff travel and research, was released as the Trump administration makes deep cuts to the state department, including beginning on Friday to fire more than 1,350 US-based employees, part of a total reduction of nearly 3,000 people for the US-based workforce.
The administration has also cut billions of dollars in foreign aid, effectively shutting down the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which funded most US humanitarian and development assistance worldwide. That led to the firing of thousands of its employees and contractors and the slashing of more than 80% of its programmes.
Critics said the cuts would undermine Washington's ability to defend and promote US interests abroad. Research published in The Lancet medical journal said the cuts to USAID and its dismantling could result in more than 14-million additional deaths by 2030.
'Within days of the Trump administration taking office and starting to roll back our commitments around the world, China was already labelling the US an unreliable partner,' senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top committee Democrat, told reporters on a conference call about the report.
'At a time when we're retreating, they are expanding their footprint.'
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BRICS+ Series: Tackling the Global Water Crisis Through BRICS
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (3-L) speaks during a plenary session of the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 7, 2025. BRICS leaders at a summit on Sunday took aim at US President Donald Trump's "indiscriminate" import tariffs and recent Israeli-US strikes on Iran. (Photo by Mauro PIMENTEL / AFP) Image: AFP Understanding the BRICS Water Dilemma The global water crisis is no longer a distant threat but an unfolding reality. By 2025, an alarming 2.8 billion people, roughly 35% of the world's population, will face water scarcity. In the face of this escalating emergency, BRICS, a powerful bloc from the Global South, is emerging as a leader, not just in survival, but in charting a path forward. Water insecurity varies among BRICS nations, reflecting the bloc's diversity and scale. India, for instance, faces one of the most severe water stress crises globally. Despite housing 18% of the world's population, it possesses only 4% of its water resources. This disparity has led to high to extreme water stress for over 600 million Indians, with groundwater depletion in areas such as Punjab and Haryana reaching unsustainable levels. Despite being a global leader in infrastructure, China grapples with significant regional disparities. The northern part of the country, home to over 40% of its population and a large portion of its agricultural land, possesses only 20% of the nation's water resources. To address this imbalance, China has invested over $79 billion in the South-North Water Transfer Project, the world's largest water diversion scheme. Brazil presents a striking paradox: it holds 12% of the world's freshwater, yet major areas, such as São Paulo (Latin America's largest city), have endured recurring droughts. This situation is exacerbated by Amazon deforestation, which imperils the flying rivers in the atmosphere vital for rainfall in southern agricultural regions. South Africa is an arid country that has experienced severe droughts over the past decade. Notably, Cape Town's 2018 Day Zero water crisis garnered international attention. The Department of Water and Sanitation warns that the country faces a 17% water deficit by 2030 unless immediate action is taken. While Russia possesses substantial freshwater reserves, mitigating its vulnerability in terms of volume, persistent pollution and inadequate management, particularly within Siberia and the Volga River Basin, present considerable long-term challenges. The expansion of BRICS introduces greater diversity to the global water landscape. Ethiopia's Blue Nile projects, while causing geopolitical tension, reflect a sovereign effort to utilize water for development. Egypt, which relies on the Nile for over 90% of its freshwater, is highly susceptible to climate fluctuations and upstream damming. Iran grapples with both water scarcity and mismanagement, whereas the UAE, heavily dependent on desalination, is investing significantly in technological advancements. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Water and Sovereignty: A Political Standpoint BRICS's water strategy subtly challenges the West's long-standing influence over global environmental policies. For too long, organisations like the World Bank, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and various Northern think tanks have shaped global water security discussions. BRICS is advocating for a shift, promoting financing models that prioritise national interests and fostering scientific collaboration built on mutual benefit rather than exploitation. Over $2.5 billion has already been approved by the New Development Bank (NDB) for water-related infrastructure, encompassing projects from Indian irrigation systems to rural South African sanitation. The NDB is set to launch a Green Water Bond Framework in 2025, which will provide concessional loans to member states for water purification, storage, and climate-resilient infrastructure. What sets BRICS apart is its perspective on water. It is viewed not as a commodity for privatisation, but as a shared human right and ecological resource. This perspective emphasises solidarity over exploitation. Challenges Ahead, but a Clear Mandate The path forward, while challenging, presents an opportunity for BRICS to leverage its collective political will, scale, resources, and burgeoning sense of shared destiny. Obstacles such as slow coordination, uneven data, and simmering geopolitical tensions (for example, the Ethiopia-Egypt Nile dispute) persist, but these do not diminish the potential for progress. For the Global South to overcome the gravest environmental challenge of the 21st century, water sovereignty and sustainable management must be spearheaded by those with an intimate understanding of its implications. BRICS is not merely reacting to a crisis; it is actively redefining it. Through this process, BRICS has the potential to guide the world toward a water future that is more equitable, secure, and sustainable. In a world where future conflicts could be sparked by water scarcity, BRICS presents a path of cooperation rather than militarisation. This cooperative approach, in itself, sets a valuable precedent Written By: *Dr Iqbal Survé Past chairman of the BRICS Business Council and co-chairman of the BRICS Media Forum and the BRNN *Sesona Mdlokovana Associate at BRICS+ Consulting Group African Specialist ** MORE ARTICLES ON OUR WEBSITE ** Follow @brics_daily on X/Twitter & @brics_daily on Instagram for daily BRICS+ updates
