Context:

• This article is based on an Editorial “C Raja Mohan writes: The US can walk, whistle and chew gum at the same time” which was published in the Indian Express.  The recent Israel Hamas conflict has raised questions about the potential overstretch of America’s strategy.

What challenges have contributed to the decline of the US hegemony?

• Collaboration: The growing strategic collaboration between China and Russia and Iran’s intentions and capacity to create trouble.
• Domestic Differentiation: The eroding domestic consensus on foreign policy.
  • A major section supported the military support to Ukraine, while another section suggested focusing on countering China rather than wasting its energies in Ukraine. The similar holds the same in the case of Israel too.

What achievements has the US accomplished in establishing its hegemony?

• In Europe: 
  • The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 led to the expansion and strengthening of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
    • NATO was joined by traditionally neutral nations like Finland and Sweden.
• In Asia
  • Encouraging Japan to increase its defense expenditure to counter China.
  • Promoting normalization of ties between Japan and South Korea.
  • Renewing defense cooperation with the Philippines.
  • Signing a strategic partnership agreement with Vietnam.
  • Unveiling the AUKUS partnership with Australia and the UK.
  • Strengthening the Quad (Australia, India, Japan, and the United States ).
  • Enhancing bilateral ties with India. 
  • The US has expanded its military support for Taiwan and is raising the costs of a potential Chinese invasion.

US’s Strategic Resilience

• Maintaining Balance: The balancing of isolationism and global engagement.
• Economy: While the Western share of the GDP has declined, the share by the US of the global GDP continues to be around 24%. 
• Military Front:  The US continues to spend more on defense than the next 10 countries combined. 
  • As the Hamas-Israel conflict has unfolded in the Middle East, the US deployed two aircraft carriers in the eastern Mediterranean during the last few days.
• Diplomacy: The US has been able to influence itself directly as observed recently in the Gaza war, the US President traveled to Israel and pressed the Israelis to delay the ground invasion and pushed for humanitarian relief. 
  • The US has more leverage than the other major powers with both the Arabs and Israel and has the greater influence in shaping the regional landscape.
• Power: The structure of the great power conflict, too, favors the US. 
  • As a distant power, the US can always take a detached view of the balance of power in Europe and Asia and has the ability to use that opportunity for its national interest.
  • For example, in the 1970s, it took advantage of the tensions between China and Russia.
• Alliance Formation: The US has the greatest ability to form alliances that are much stronger than the coalitions of Russia and China. 

Also read: India’s Diplomacy with West Asia Countries 

Conclusion:

The challenges are complex and demanding, however, the United States has demonstrated the will, resources, and ample geopolitical maneuvering room to counter the Russian and Chinese influences in Europe and Asia, asserting its hegemony in the region.

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