USA: Spree of Losing Allies - A series of events in 2016
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A series of events in 2016 created a widespread narrative that the U.S. is an unreliable ally and a weak partner. The US is currently suffering a crisis of credibility with its allies across the globe. From Pakistan to Turkey, from Iraq to Malaysia, from Philippines to Libya, US is losing allies at an unprecedented speed. Former neocon Vice President Dick Cheney succinctly summarised when he observed that “our friends no longer count on us, no longer trust us and our adversaries don’t fear us.” Russia-Malaysia relations are also on the rise as are Russian - Pakistan, Russian –Turkish, Russian- Syrian, Russian –Iranian, Russian – Chinese and so on. Russia geopolitical position and Chinese economic power make them more attractive than US’s vacillating, intimidating and overwhelming characteristics,
Malaysia is another old time America’s ally to shift away from the US orbit following the Philippines. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak visited China in November marks another potential setback for US Asia «pivot» policy. The event took place against the background of worsening relations between the US and the Philippines. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has made statements about his intent to break the military alliance with the United States and shift to the partnership with China and Russia. He had visited Beijing to defy America just two weeks before Mr. Razak’s trip.
Writing for Strategic Culture Alex Gorka says, “With the Philippines and Malaysia shifting away from US orbit, Washington is finding itself with increasingly fewer allies in the region. The Asia Pacific «pivot» appears to be another foreign policy failure in addition to the Middle Eastern debacle. In addition, the US faces a major setback as Europe rejects the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).”
“America is a global power in retreat. A new US president will have to face this reality. The events in the Asia Pacific region provide a good example to support this obvious fact. In a very short period of time the US has lost two major allies in the region. Japan too mustered courage to defy the anti-Russia sanctions regime. The American century seems to be fading away as other poles of power emerge on the world map.”
