By Khandaker Apon Hossain
In the gray deserts of Suez in 1956, a crisis emerged, casting the shadow of bloody intervention on the pages of history. The combined assault by Britain, France, and Israel ignited Egypt’s nationalist fervor. Eisenhower’s administration stood firmly against its Western allies with a cool hand.
For the first time, the United States’ voice at the United Nations boldly opposed European colonialism. Under the pressure of the dollar, London and Paris retreated. America’s dominance reflected in the waters of the Suez Canal. Amidst the Cold War, Washington’s strategy shifted.
The golden stream of the Marshall Plan rebuilt Europe. The Truman Doctrine’s promise erected a wall of resistance against communism. In the blood-soaked battlefields of Korea and Vietnam, American troops assumed the role of global police.
Yet, the fire of socialism underground could not be extinguished. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, Kennedy’s resolve brought the world to the brink of a third world war.
In 1971, the Bretton Woods system collapsed.
The gold standard for the dollar was severed. Nixon’s announcement ushered in a new chapter in the global economy. In the era of petrodollars, a handshake with OPEC deepened America’s footprints in the sands of the Middle East.
The fall of the Shah in Iran and the hostage crisis left deep scars on Washington’s pride. During Reagan’s era, the term “Evil Empire” initiated a psychological war against the Soviet Union. Consequently, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the disintegration of the Soviet Union became evident.
In 1991, the garland of victory adorned George H. W. Bush. The “New World Order” was proclaimed. Yet, in Somalia’s deserts, the Black Hawk Down incident and the genocide in Bosnia exposed the limitations of the new world order.
During Clinton’s tenure, globalization surged. The information technology revolution saw Silicon Valley conquer the world. But in the smoke of 9/11, America’s security consciousness transformed. George W. Bush’s “War on Terror” led to bloody marches in Afghanistan’s mountains and Iraq’s deserts.
The USA PATRIOT Act and Guantanamo Bay bound the eyes of the Statue of Liberty. Old European allies raised questions. Putin’s Russia and Xi Jinping’s China seized the opportunity. The 2008 financial crisis saw Wall Street’s greed collapse global markets. Obama’s “Hope and Change” re-energized the world.
The Paris Climate Agreement and the Iran Nuclear Deal highlighted Obama’s multilateralism, yet Democratic weakness was evident in the inaction over chemical attacks in Syria. The annexation of Crimea and tensions in the South China Sea began to crack trust in American leadership. Trump’s arrival-with his red tie and white
Twitter storms-ushered in the mantra of “America First,” showing disregard for NATO and the UN. Trade wars with China began and solidified overnight. The wall at the Mexican border and the Muslim ban tarnished America’s moral leadership. Handshakes with Putin and Kim Jong-un initiated threat diplomacy in North Korea.
Declaring Jerusalem as Israel’s capital ultimately rang the death knell for the Middle East peace process. Abandoning the Kurds and Russia’s dominance in Syria clarified the distinction between allies and enemies during the Trump era. Foreign policy in 280-character tweets placed America’s role in global leadership under question.
Climate change, pandemics, cyber warfare-crises of the new century call for multilateral solutions. Is America a leader or a partner? The question remains open. The answer lies hidden in the womb of history. The world now awaits-who will take the helm of leadership, who will write new history?
Eisenhower’s doctrine granted the right to military intervention in the Middle East. To counter Soviet influence, the clatter of arms was heard. But in the jungles of Vietnam, America’s greatness was lost. In the voices of protesting youth, “Make love, not war.”
Nixon’s fall in the Watergate scandal-the mask of democracy fell. During Carter’s time, the fire of the Iranian revolution turned America’s confidence to ashes. Reagan’s Star Wars initiative beckoned militarization in space.
Gorbachev’s Glasnost and Perestroika softened the Soviet Union. Bush’s inaction during the fall of the Berlin Wall was questioned. Leading a multinational force in the Iraq-Kuwait war-a temporary picture of unity.
But after the Soviet collapse, the pride of being the sole superpower was cracked by the pressures of globalization. Under Clinton’s leadership, economic rise-budget surplus, stock market exuberance. But the Monica Lewinsky scandal eroded the moral yardstick. Pakistan and Saudi support in the anti-Taliban coalition.
But Al-Qaeda’s ghost spread across the Iraq-Afghan border. The “Axis of Evil” rhetoric failed to prove the existence of weapons of mass destruction. Bush sowed seeds of distrust among European allies. The promise to close Guantanamo remained unfulfilled. Civilian casualties in drone strikes-policy makers tormented by moral dilemmas.
The fall of Morsi in Egypt, the rise of Sisi-America’s silent consent. Snowden’s leaked documents revealed the NSA’s secret surveillance network. A wave of distrust swept across allies and enemies alike. In the era of “fake news,” the definition of truth faded. Democracy endangered-the temple of democracy cracked.
Trump’s inauguration reflected “American Carnage.” Distrust in global alliances, the rise of luxurious nationalism. Rejection of the Paris Agreement-leadership vacuum in the climate crisis. Withdrawal from WHO and UNESCO-the death knell of multilateralism rang. NATO’s budget debates-cracks in the military alliance.
Abandoning Kurdish allies in Syria-accusations of betrayal. The killing of Soleimani in Iran-relationships teetered on the brink of war. The divisive 2020 election-Biden’s victory brought global relief. But the Capitol riot-shook the foundations of democracy.
Semiconductor crisis-increased America’s dependence on global supply chains. Biden’s revival of multilateralism returned with the Paris Agreement. Renewed commitment to NATO built bridges with Europe. But in the ruins of Afghanistan, America’s image remained eroded.
Pandemic, climate change, inflation-a world beset by triple crises. America’s leadership now plays in the game of partnership. China’s influence in G7 and G20-indicating new polarization. America during the Suez era was a builder. In the post-Trump era, it’s a repairer. The wheel of history turns, but direction is unclear.
The torch of leadership is now in many hands.
The end of the Cold War was a dream of exclusive dominance. China’s bold steps in lunar missions. Europe’s weakness during the Suez Crisis was a great opportunity.
Today, the European Union is America’s competitor. Germany’s military spending in NATO-tension within alliances. The tide of leftism in Latin America-America backed against the wall. Nicaragua, Venezuela-Washington’s sanctions failed. Attempts to improve relations with Cuba remained incomplete.
Defeat in the drug war-record cocaine production in Colombia. China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Africa-countries entangled in debt. America’s AGOA agreement faded. Russia’s Wagner Group-began playing a new role as a projector. Debates over censorship on Twitter and Facebook-milestones in the boundaries of free speech.
From the Suez Crisis to the Trump era-this long journey clearly reveals the transformation of America’s global leadership. A country once symbolizing freedom, now its decisions are questioned by both allies and rivals. Times have changed, and so has the nature of leadership.
But the world still waits-will America return to its former leadership, or will new powers share that seat? History will tell the final tale. But in today’s world, leadership means not just power, but responsibility as well. Is America ready to bear that burden? That is now the most pressing question.