The Problem with America First Global Health

The Problem with America First Global Health

The Problem with America First Global Health by Roger Bate at Brownstone Institute The US government is now committing tens of billions of dollars to global health through a growing web of bilateral agreements branded as the “America First Global Health Strategy.” These deals are pitched as a way to protect Americans from infectious disease threats by strengthening surveillance and outbreak response overseas. As of early 2026, the State Departme…

USA/Africa: privatisation of health aid

Recent agreements between the United States and some fifteen African countries are radically reshaping health cooperation on the continent, even as Washington has just left the World Health Organisation (WHO). These new partnerships are part of the so-called America First Global Health strategy, which makes aid conditional on US priorities. In December, Washington signed memoranda with some fifteen countries setting specific objectives for epide…

Five reasons why Africa is central to US “America First” global health strategy

Full Text In September 2025, the United States (US) unveiled a new policy document titled the America First Global Health Strategy, outlining how it intends to engage with other countries on key health challenges such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, polio, and outbreak preparedness. The strategy positions global health assistance as a tool for advancing US …