While America is still recovering from its failed war in Afghanistan, it has found itself in another conflict with a superpower: Russia. Increasing political divisions at home, seeming inability to secure allies’ interests, unworthy interventions in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, and currently clueless about how to deal with Russia, against the backdrop of an increasingly influential China, have led many to believe America is gradually losing its power in the world.
Following World War II, America became one of the premier superpowers, but it got into geo-political tension with the Soviet Union in a short time. It then made its major blunder in foreign policy in Vietnam in the mid-70s. It, however, came back as the supreme power by winning the Cold War in the early 90s with the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
America has been maintaining its unipolar supremacy since then. It has the largest economy, invincible military power, and cutting-edge technologies to rule the world.
However, America has faced public backlash against its foreign policy since it invaded Afghanistan in 2000 and Iraq in 2003 under the Bush administration. Many studies have underscored how American intervention in foreign lands, and the internal affairs of different countries' politics and economics, sowed anti-Americanism around the globe.
In the past couple of decades, American interventions in many countries to change regimes and establish pro-American democratic governments have been criticized worldwide. Though they successfully managed to topple some regimes in some cases, they miserably failed while regaining social and political order. As the American military was withdrawn from Iraq and Afghanistan in recent years, it has become more visible now how the US has blundered in most of its foreign interventions.
America’s reputation is further diminished by some of its national leaders. The country’s overall global image had a significant decline during the Trump's era. His unpredictable persona and arrogant leadership style, his “America first” policies, his withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and climate change agreement, his approach to NATO and European allies, and his hostile policies against Mexico and China have all hampered America’s global reputation and weakened its hegemonic power over the world.
The transition from Trump to Biden has led to some positive changes in America’s international image. While the Biden administration is rebounding and stabilizing America after the Covid pandemic, they found themselves in an unpleasant and unavoidable conflict with another superpower.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine challenges American supremacy in an unprecedented way. America and the Western bloc decided to react with harsh sanctions against the Russian economy, leading to the Russian central bank being frozen. All Russian flights, luxury goods, and wealthy Russian leaders have been effectively “banned.” Some European leaders are vocal in favour of even more sanctions, and others are concerned about their economic challenges while cutting off business relationships with Russia.
A few influential European countries, especially those from the Western part of Europe, are not convinced enough to ban Russian oil and gas at this point, as it will hurt their own economies equally. The European Union, which is now dependent on Russian oil and gas, says it will switch to alternative supplies and become independent of Russian energy by 2030. In response, Russia has made a list of “unfriendly nations” and has told them to pay in Roubles while importing Russian gas.
Putin’s decision has put many European countries under pressure.
Ukraine has gotten into the war against Russia following the America-led NATO’s expansion to Russia’s doorsteps. But drenched in two decades of disaster in Iraq and Afghanistan, America is not ready for another war. Thus, when Ukrainian President Zelensky is constantly appealing for direct military support, neither America nor its European allies are willing to fight a direct war against Russia.
On the one hand, leaving Ukraine alone at this stage questions American leadership. On the other hand, the Biden administration is struggling to keep all its European allies on the same page. The sanctions have certainly affected Russia, but it has failed to stop the war. America seems to be clueless about what to do except for lingering the duration of the war.
Meanwhile, America’s major strategic partners in the Middle East, Saudi and Emirati leaders declined calls from Biden. Additionally, Saudi Arabia is taking steps to sell its oil in yuan instead of the dollar which surely challenges the hegemony of the dollar as the global currency. In addition, another influential country, India, continues to buy Russian crude oil despite American warnings.
While America is dealing with unexpected tensions, China seems to be getting some breathing space. Though China is not in a position to replace its Western market with Russia, and does not want to take any side openly, there is a high possibility it will get some economic benefit while doing business with an isolated Russia.
Globally, America has already lost its image and credibility as a preacher of democracy and human rights. European leaders are carefully following American leadership while being concerned about their economies. America’s allies in the Middle East are busy dealing with their own geo-political problems, and they seem to care less about what Biden thinks.
China, on the other hand, is rising as an economic superpower. Russia is determined to push NATO backwards. Despite all the challenges, America’s enormous strength is still intact, but the present scenario may allow an opportunity for those countries which seek to break America’s hegemony.
Md Kawsar Uddin is an assistant professor of English at the International University of Business Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT).
