When World War Two ended, there was a clear leader in the world as a superpower. The United States of America had created the world’s largest and strongest army to defeat the Nazis and the Japanese. They did it all in 4 years, of course not without the help of the Allies and the Soviets. But the United States made it abundantly clear, we are the leaders of the free world.
The Soviets of course were trying to be the leaders of the world. The Cold War lasted for decades, with proxy wars across the world. The United States kept flexing its military might in Vietnam and Korea. Nuclear war was the main threat for decades, but luckily never came to fruition. Once the Soviet Union fell, the United States came out as the sole superpower of the world. Since then, the United States has led the global economy, fought the war on terror, sought to create a peaceful Russia, and led the world into what was considered to be the most peaceful time period in history.
But today the world is changing. China is the new global superpower that has grown stronger each decade. The European Union lost one of its largest members, India is growing at the fastest rate in history, and Russia has invaded Ukraine. The United States is losing global leadership.
US Navy Conducting Exercises. Photo Credits: AFP/US NAVY
Former President Donald Trump can take part of the blame for this lack of leadership on the global stage. His American first policy made our allies feel we were abandoning them. We pulled our $2 billion of funding from the UN and threatened to do the same in NATO. Trump also escalated trade tariffs with China, fueling the trade war. But we cannot put all the blame on President Trump. We can blame our policy leaders in Washington, but even then, it wouldn’t matter. The fact is, countries and people around the world are tired of the United States bossing them around, and taking control.
The world is developing rapidly. China wants a piece of leadership, the European Union wants a piece, India wants a piece, Russia, Brazil, all of them. Countries want to exert influence, and who can blame them? The United States has had the reins for years, and we are still the world’s largest economy, with the best currency, strongest military, and the most influential culture.
But how does the United States navigate this new era of great power competition? How do we get back to becoming the world’s number-one superpower? Honestly, policymakers need to move on from this notion. We will never be the absolute number one ever again. But the United States can still be the leader of the group of leaders.
The first step in this process is continuing to create partners. The United States has a history of ignoring the global south, especially when there are controversial leaders or civil wars. That can no longer go on. The United States needs to reignite political ties with the global south and become the mediator for those in civil wars or with dictators at the helm. The United States can make a strong investment in infrastructure, trade, and financial sectors. Security alliances with the global south will give countries a sense of safety. No other example can be better proven than President Biden’s recent security partnership with Vietnam and the Philippines.
Besides exerting influence on the global south, the United States needs to work closer with its allies. By creating new trade deals with Canada, and the EU, and his recent policy with Brazilian President Lula de Silva to back foreign workers, the United States will reaffirm its commitment on the global stage. The United States also needs to deepen its ties with India and China. India is important as dealing with the Indians is a counterbalance to China. But deep ties with China can show Xi Jinping that the U.S. is committed to re-imagining its relationship with the Chinese and de-escalating conflict. Opening diplomatic and military communication, removing tariffs, and negotiating new trade deals can prevent a war the world so desperately does not need.
Lastly, the United States needs to focus on what’s going on at home. We live in the most politically polarized time period in American history, with what seems to be no way to solve it. The U.S. needs to reform education, teaching civics, and basic government to all students at the high school level. The government needs to push more public-private partnerships to show trust in our institutions. We need to invest in community infrastructure, building the best trains, roads, and communication systems on the planet.
The United States has lived to be the largest “empire” to ever exist. That power is being threatened, not just by outside forces, but also from within. We need to make changes and reform and work together to push the United States back to the top.
Author: Joshua Cheatham
