I found myself pausing before a particularly evocative image: US President Donald Trump seated in the White House, addressing European leaders assembled to hear his vision of a ‘new map’ for Ukraine following his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Behind, Trump had arranged a formidable display of American military strength, featuring stealth aircraft and B-52 bombers, an unambiguous demonstration of Washington’s unrivalled capacity for force projection.
This scene summarises a fundamental reality of contemporary international affairs: power remains the ultimate currency of global relations. For all the rhetoric surrounding peace, coexistence and universal rights, the dynamics of world politics are still governed by the imposition of interests and agendas by dominant powers.
Despite frequent claims about the emergence of rival powers such as China and Russia, it is the US that continues to set the terms of engagement, asserting itself as an enduring and inescapable presence on the global stage.
Never in recorded history has humanity witnessed a hegemonic power as extensive and multifaceted as that exercised by the US. This dominance is founded upon three principal pillars: unrivalled military superiority, a financial system that underpins and directs the global economy and a cultural apparatus with the capacity to shape international public opinion.
President Trump, with his polarising yet unmistakable persona, embodied this distinctly American ethos of confidence, assertiveness and, at times, overt arrogance. He never sought to conceal the conviction that the US stood above all others and possessed the authority to impose its will upon the world.
While he remained a divisive figure domestically, Trump projected abroad the image of a nation fully aware of its unmatched military and economic resources. He did not invent this mentality but rather articulated, in its most explicit form, the essence of American strategic thought: those who align with Washington and accept its conditions will receive its protection and support, particularly in the military sphere, whereas those who oppose it will inevitably confront its immense and unrelenting force.
The US commands the most formidable armed forces in human history, sustained by a defence budget greater than the combined expenditures of numerous other leading nations. Its naval fleets traverse every ocean, and more than 800 military bases are distributed across over 70 regions and more than 150 countries.
The financial domain amplifies this hegemony. The US dollar serves as the global reserve currency, enabling Washington to wield sanctions as powerful instruments of coercion. This financial supremacy is reinforced by the technological dominance of American corporations such as Google, Apple, Amazon and Microsoft, whose reach extends far beyond commerce. They disseminate not only products but also the American model, its values and its cultural direction.
Equally important is the cultural influence of the US. Through Hollywood, Netflix, YouTube and Facebook, American values and perspectives are broadcast to audiences around the world, shaping global conversations and narratives. This cultural reach may seem harmless, yet it quietly influences how people think, what they aspire to, and how they view the world. In many cases, individuals are unaware of just how deeply these platforms shape their attitudes and choices.
At the same time, it is essential to recognise that American dominance provides tangible advantages for its allies. Nations that choose to stand alongside the US often gain regional influence and political protection that would otherwise be unattainable.
Even in an era shaped by globalisation, rapid technological progress and the growing influence of artificial intelligence, the central determinants of world leadership continue to lie in military power and economic weight. The US, more than any other nation, has grasped this reality and has consistently demonstrated a readiness to employ not only its military and financial strength but also its cultural reach to shape the global order. Together, these elements have secured the endurance of American influence as a defining force in international relations, shaping the frameworks within which both allies and adversaries navigate the global stage.
akram@fp7.com
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