US State Department: The war in Sudan threatens US interests
Heather Nauert, former State Department Spokesperson and Acting Under Secretary for Diplomacy and Public Affairs, warned that the worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan has become a direct threat to US regional and security interests, calling on Washington to strengthen its leadership role in containing the conflict.
In an article published in the (Washington Examiner), Nauert stated that US President Donald Trump was right to call for a comprehensive review of foreign aid programs to ensure they align with national interests. She emphasized that humanitarian aid is not a charitable act, but rather a strategic tool for protecting US national security.
She noted that Sudan has been experiencing its worst humanitarian crisis in modern history for more than two years, with the death toll exceeding (150,000), while the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has forced more than (12 million people) to be internally and externally displaced, assuming the largest number of displaced people in the world.
The former State Department Spokesperson added that (25 million) Sudanese individuals face severe food insecurity, whilst famine is inhumanely besieging ten regions.
She went on to emphasize that continued violence and famine will inevitably lead to new waves of displacement, a resurgence of extremist groups, and represent a direct threat to Washington’s allies in the region.
Furthermore, Nauert praised the Trump Administration’s efforts to end the Sudanese war by communicating with both parties to the conflict and coordinating with the regional quartet, which includes the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as by pressuring both parties to the war to secure humanitarian access to conflict areas.
She emphasized that funding UN programs, such as the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme(WFP), represents an investment in the security of the United States and its allies, in addition to contributing to the stability of the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa.
The former spokesperson concluded her remarks by sharing that the “America First” policy does not mean isolationism, but rather smart investment in crisis areas in an effort to prevent their expansion to influence American interests, noting that the strategic importance of Washington’s military presence at the Lemonnier Base in Djibouti and its role in combating terrorism in addition to protecting sea lanes in the Red Sea.
