Senator Marco Rubio has responded to criticism regarding the United States’ response to the devastating earthquake in Myanmar that occurred on March 28, which has resulted in over 3,000 fatalities. During a press conference at a NATO meeting in Brussels, Rubio emphasized the challenges posed by Myanmar’s military junta, stating, “There’s a lot of other rich countries in the world, they should all be pitching in. We’re going to do our part. We already have people there. We’ll have more people there. We’ll help as much as we can [but] it’s not the easiest place to work… they have a military junta that doesn’t like us.”
Challenges in deploying US aid
Former USAID officials have expressed concern that recent cuts to the agency have severely limited the United States’ ability to mobilize disaster response teams. A report by a former official indicated that the closure of the agency, influenced by the policies of billionaire Elon Musk, has hindered immediate life-saving efforts following the earthquake. Typically, the US can deploy up to 200 rescue personnel, along with sniffer dogs and specialized equipment, making it one of the most capable foreign response teams available.
Despite these challenges, the State Department announced that a small team of three advisors from the US, already in the region, is being dispatched to the affected areas. Rubio attributed some of the difficulties in accessing aid to the military regime in Myanmar, although the State Department had acknowledged a formal request for assistance from the country earlier this week. He remarked, “That would have impeded our response, no matter what. That said, we are willing to continue to help in the humanitarian crisis. Other countries need to do so as well.”
Calls for international cooperation
Rubio highlighted the responsibility of other wealthy nations, specifically calling out China and India, which were among the first to send teams to provide assistance. He argued for a collective international response, stating, “There are a lot of other countries in the world, and everyone should pitch in.” In light of the criticism regarding the US’s limited capacity to deploy a large rescue team, Rubio dismissed claims that these issues were directly related to the cuts in USAID funding.
Rubio further criticized non-governmental organizations (NGOs), claiming that they often receive excessive funding while underperforming in delivering aid effectively. He stated, “We’re not going to fund these global NGOs all over the world that are living off of this. We’re not doing it. We are prepared to help and work with governments and appropriate NGOs on the ground that are delivering assistance.” He reiterated the necessity for collaboration among nations to address the humanitarian crisis effectively.
Reports indicated that the White House had sought to deploy a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) but faced logistical obstacles due to cuts initiated by the Trump administration, which affected contracts and personnel crucial for such missions. The reductions in USAID were part of a broader strategy to limit foreign assistance, which Trump critiqued upon taking office, labeling it an “industry” that often contradicted American values.