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America’s Global Shift: Declining Influence and European Isolation

Syllabus:

GS-2:

Bilateral Groupings & Agreements , Effect of Policies & Politics of Countries on India’s Interests , Indian Diaspora , Groupings & Agreements Involving India and/or Affecting India’s Interests

Focus:

The US vetoed a Europe-backed UN resolution on Ukraine, exposing fractures in transatlantic relations. As America prioritizes unilateral actions and economic interests, Europe is sidelined. This shift signals a decline in US-led Western dominance and the emergence of a multipolar world order with rising global powers like India, Russia, and China.II

Shift in US Foreign Policy:

Redefining Global Alliances

• The United States recently vetoed a European-backed UN resolution on Ukraine, aligning itself with Russia, Belarus, Iran, and North Korea.
• This action contradicts America’s traditional stance of supporting European allies in global conflicts.
• Europe had earlier supported the US in its stance on Gaza but now finds itself isolated in defending the global order.

Decline of Transatlantic Unity

• The US-European partnership, once strong, has weakened due to diverging geopolitical priorities.
• The Ukraine and Gaza conflicts have exposed fractures within the Western alliance, instead of strengthening it.
• European countries are now realizing that the US is shifting focus away from their interests in favor of its own strategic goals.

America’s Unilateral Approach to Global Governance:

The Post-Cold War Strategy

• After the Cold War ended, the US no longer viewed its traditional European allies as crucial to its strategic interests.
• The globalization of the world economy allowed the US to work with Europe in integrating former Soviet states into Western frameworks.
• However, this process also weakened the international order established after World War II.

The Rise of Unilateral Actions

• With no significant enemies in the UN system, the US moved away from multilateral diplomacy towards unilateral military interventions.
• Examples include military operations in Serbia and Iraq, carried out without broad global consensus.
• Economic sanctions became a tool to punish uncooperative states, further weakening the legitimacy of international institutions like the UN.
• Europe initially supported these moves, but over time, they led to Europe’s diminished influence in global affairs.

Impact on Europe and Global Politics:

Europe’s Growing Vulnerability

• European leaders now recognize that their biggest threat is not Russia’s military or China’s economic rise, but America’s shifting priorities.
• US policy on Russia, Ukraine, Canada, and Mexico has undermined Europe’s military and economic standing.
• Many mistakenly attribute this shift solely to the Trump administration, but these trends have been evolving for decades under both Democratic and Republican governments.

Economic and Social Consequences

• As the US prioritized global financial integration, Europe lost economic independence and became more dependent on American policies.
• The welfare state and Keynesian economics were abandoned in favor of free-market capitalism, leading to job losses and economic instability.
• Globalization shifted manufacturing to Asia, breaking traditional industrial economies in the West.
• This economic decline fueled the rise of populist movements, as citizens felt disconnected from political leadership.

Political Shifts and the Rise of Populism:

Weakening of Traditional Political Structures

• The weakening of traditional political structures allowed radical leaders to take control of established parties.
• In the US, Donald Trump took over the Republican Party by sidelining the old political elite.
• In Europe, far-right movements have gained popularity by exploiting public frustration with mainstream parties.

Manipulation of Public Opinion

• Leaders like Trump have portrayed themselves as opponents of the “deep state” and “mainstream media”, while simultaneously consolidating power.
• Technology and social media algorithms now influence public discourse, shaping opinions in a way that undermines traditional democratic debate.
• The far-right in the West thrives on recognizing the decline of Western power but is also a symptom of that decline, accelerating it.

America’s Declining Global Influence and Future Implications:

The Monroe Doctrine Redux

• Trump’s approach resembles a modern version of the Monroe Doctrine, which sought to keep European powers out of the Americas while securing US dominance in the region.
• The US has focused on expanding control over Canada, Mexico, Panama, and Greenland, while distancing itself from European affairs.
• Unlike the original Monroe Doctrine, which signaled America’s rise, this new approach reflects its decline as a global hegemon.

The Rise of New Global Powers

• With the emergence of India, Russia, and China, America can no longer dictate terms to the world as it once did.
• These rising powers will not align with the US in the same way Europe once did, creating a multipolar world order.
• The US-led Western dominance is fading, forcing Europe to either become more self-reliant or serve as a subordinate ally to America.

The Collapse of the Western Order

• Race, religion, and civilizational identity are now defining the West’s new ideological framework, replacing its earlier emphasis on global leadership.
• Since the US can no longer control the international order, it is instead choosing to dismantle it.
• This transformation will have long-term consequences for global stability, reshaping international alliances and economic structures.

Conclusion :

America’s evolving foreign policy is weakening Western unity and sidelining Europe. As India, Russia, and China rise, the US struggles to maintain dominance. This transition to a multipolar world signals the end of Western hegemony, forcing Europe to reconsider its global role amid shifting geopolitical alliances and economic dependencies.

Source: IE

Mains Practice Question:

Discuss the impact of America’s shifting foreign policy on global geopolitics. How has the decline of US-led Western dominance affected Europe’s strategic positioning? Analyze the role of emerging powers in shaping a multipolar world order and suggest policy measures for Europe to maintain its influence in global affairs.