THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2025 25 Development assistance is a strategic investment in U.S. national security, and the unique capabilities USAID had developed will continue to be essential to U.S. foreign policy. BY ERIN E. MCKEE Erin E. McKee is a career Foreign Service officer and global strategist with extensive experience in U.S. national security, governance, and economic diplomacy. A two-time Senate-confirmed official serving five presidential administrations, she most recently led USAID’s Europe and Eurasia operations, managing a $30 billion portfolio across 17 locations. Previously, as U.S. ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu, she helped strengthen America’s strategic position in the Indo-Pacific region. She is a recipient of the Presidential Distinguished Service Award. American foreign assistance stands as one of the most powerful yet frequently misunderstood instruments of national power. Far from representing mere charity, development diplomacy constitutes a sophisticated strategic investment in America’s future security and prosperity—one that embodies our values while advancing our interests in an increasingly complex global landscape. When American health care experts collaborate with local providers to strengthen medical systems, when our engineers partner with community leaders to develop sustainable water infrastructure, or when our agricultural specialists work alongside farmers to enhance food security, these interactions create enduring bonds built on shared accomplishment and mutual respect. These partnerships yield concrete economic dividends that directly benefit U.S. businesses and workers. Countries that once received U.S. development assistance have transformed into vibrant trading partners and regional stabilizers. South Korea— once devastated by war and poverty—now imports more than Development Diplomacy The Strategic Imperative THE FUTURE OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE FOCUS
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