TRANSCRIPT:
If you want foreigners to understand and support U.S. policies, you have to explain these policies to them, preferably in their own languages. There is no better way to reach them than VOA, which broadcast around the world and around the clock.
American citizens should want foreign citizens to understand and support our economic and political policies. This helps us achieve our goals around the world. However, to get the support, we have to persuade people that what we want to do is the right thing. And you can’t do that without the kind of communication the VOA provided.
The concept of soft power is important. This is the idea that a country can get other countries to do what it wants without resorting to threats or payments. Until recently, the U.S. had a tremendous amount of soft power, evidenced by the desire of tens of millions of tourists to visit the United States. The desire for people to purchase U.S. products like iPhones or to go to movies made in Hollywood. All of these things make a lot of money for U.S. companies, which supports our high standard of living. VOA has built American soft power for decades, supporting our political goals, our economy, and the welfare of American citizens.
Other countries want soft power too, because they see the benefits it provides. Countries like China will be more than happy to take VOA’s place to use broadcasting to develop their own soft power to help them achieve their goals, which often are different or even the opposite of ours. Silencing VOA is basically surrendering U.S. interests to our adversaries like China and Russia.
Published
Delawie served as U.S. ambassador to Kosovo from 2015–2018 during the Obama and Trump administrations. His diplomatic career focused heavily on Balkan affairs and European security.