Over the past 30 years, the United States has engaged in four unnecessary wars, Gulf Wars 1 and 2, the Afghan War, and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where the U.S. is not directly involved but is heavily committed to Ukraine militarily. US did not win these wars or unlikely to win the Ukraine war, hence these wars have significantly eroded America's economic and military strength. None of them yielded decisive results, but they have diminished America's global prestige.
It may be time to reconsider the world's dominant power structure and re-order it, as the U.S. appears increasingly incapable of effectively managing global issues. The Gulf Wars, intended to secure control over a significant portion of the world's oil supply, ultimately failed to achieve their objectives. The Afghan war, while necessary, was mishandled, particularly with the choice to align with Pakistan, which covertly supported both sides, even sheltering Osama bin Laden.
The Ukraine war, which was aimed at weakening Russia, has not worked and could have been handled more effectively through diplomacy.
The unexpected alliance between Russia and China, joined by a heavily armed North Korea, is particularly concerning. Iran, though a partner, pales in comparison to the threat posed by the other three. The US animosity toward Iran, stemming from the 1979 embassy crisis, is outdated and no longer relevant.
This Russia-China-North Korea trio now poses a serious threat to both Europe and the Pacific region. This outcome is an unintended consequence of the Ukraine war. The story that portrays Russia as the sole aggressor ignores the fact that America's push to bring Ukraine into NATO, encroaching on Russia's sphere of influence, caused the conflict. If faced with a similar situation, the U.S. would probably have reacted in exactly the same manner as it did in Cuba in 1962.
The worst may still be ahead. While the war will eventually end, its economic impacts will be long-lasting. The hegemony of the U.S. dollar in global trade is already under threat, a direct result of the comprehensive sanctions imposed on Russia and the warnings issued to its trading partners. As a result, countries are beginning to settle trades in currencies other than the dollar.
This shift is a significant loss for America. If the Ukraine war were to end today, the U.S. might still have a chance to halt this decline. But if the war and sanctions persist, the gradual decline of the dollar is inevitable. Bad news for America.
If things do not go America's way, China may challenge a weakened U.S. supremacy in the Indo-Pacific region. While China may not succeed, the mere possibility is alarming for the smaller nations in the region. Although China may only intimidate and not fight a war as economic losses for them will be enormous, but belligerent China may be forcing the Taiwan issue.
While this analysis has a 50/50 chance of playing out, the mere possibility of America's military and economic decline should prompt some serious reflection among honest-minded people in Washington and elsewhere. There is a good need to reconsider and reorder the world order for long term peace and prosperity. America may be one leg of the new order, others equally powerful may seek equal status.
