As a European, I'm hoping this plays out like the Russian attempts to do the same to pre-invasion Ukraine.

They took the money, spent it on themselves instead of an influence campaign, reported positive results upwards.

I couldn't do that. Wouldn't be able to be so two-faced. But I hope enough other people do it to bankrupt the effort.

foreign influence operations need to be exposed and expelled. At least, that is what a truly sovereign state would do