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68% of Moroccans who perceive U.S. aid as beneficial to educational initiatives also express a strong desire to strengthen economic ties with the United States, according to recent findings from the Arab Barometer.
In an article analyzing these findings, Michael Robbins, director at the Arab Barometer, warned that the abrupt suspension of U.S. foreign aid could accelerate the erosion of America’s already fragile reputation in the region, highlighting that, despite an overall deterioration in sentiment toward the U.S.—largely driven by its support for Israel in Gaza—foreign aid has remained an anomaly, with its perceived benefits in education, women’s rights, and civil society becoming increasingly recognized across several Arab nations.
Between 2022 and 2024, the perceived effectiveness of U.S. aid surged by more than 10 percentage points in Morocco, by no less than 5 points in Mauritania, and by at least 4 points in Jordan, reinforcing the idea that, even amid growing skepticism regarding American policies, targeted assistance programs retain their capacity to shape positive public attitudes, particularly when directed toward tangible developmental priorities.
Morocco remains a significant outlier, as skepticism toward U.S. aid remains deeply entrenched in other parts of the region, with majorities in Lebanon, Iraq, Tunisia, Jordan, and Mauritania continuing to view these financial allocations as instruments of strategic influence rather than mechanisms for fostering economic progress, social stability, or civic empowerment.
While the study underscores a prevailing preference among respondents for aid programs that prioritize economic expansion and infrastructure development over initiatives aimed at advancing human rights or strengthening civil society, it simultaneously reveals that, even when misaligned with local priorities, U.S. assistance has consistently played a crucial role in enhancing the country’s image—an outcome that Robbins suggests will be jeopardized should Washington opt to withdraw these funds, thereby undermining one of the most effective pillars of American soft power in the Middle East and North Africa.
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