THE AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY NEEDS AN OPEN HEART SURGERY

Sydney - United States of America (US) foreign policy is currently operating on an expired, 20th-century framework that is no longer sustainable, effective or ethical in the 21st century.

It requires radical "open-heart surgery" to move away from an arrogant, bullying posture of hegemony and toward genuine leadership.

The current approach, defined by the imposition of "American Interests" over the sovereignty of others, treats other nations as subjects rather than partners, creating a system of glorified dependency, a modern form of economic and diplomatic servitude.

The Expiry of Hegemony and the Rise of Peer Competitors

The China/Taiwan Crisis:

 America’s confrontational posture is failing to deter China’s methodical progression toward Taiwan. While Washington relies on militarised signaling, China is leveraging trade, technology and economic integration. The US strategy of "strategic ambiguity" is increasingly seen as tenuous, with regional players fearing a vacuum if US resolve wavers.

Russia’s Diplomatic Surge:

While the US often utilises megaphone diplomacy or sanctions, Russia is actively expanding its diplomatic footprint, with 49 embassies in Africa. This methodical, on-the-ground presence contrasts with a perceived American (US) detachment, making Russia an increasingly influential partner in strategic sectors like mining and energy.

An Untenable Strategy:

The abrupt departures of historical colonial powers like Britain, France and Spain from expansionist strategies highlight the obsolescence of American foreign policy, which often behaves as the last remaining expansionist, "colonial" entity, dictating terms rather than negotiating them.

Dependency Syndrome over Partnership

Creating 'Master-Servant' Relations:

American aid and funding are frequently criticised for fostering a "dependency syndrome" rather than investing in sustainable local infrastructure. Instead of equitable economic partnerships, Africa is treated as a sphere of influence where China and Russia go straight to develop infrastructure and resources, filling the vacuum left by US apathy or conditional aid.

Unreciprocated Respect:

America treats its own rights as universal while treating the rights of other countries as negotiable, decided by Washington’s security needs. This bullying tactic, negotiating with a "gun" rather than diplomat statecraft, is actively losing influence as demonstrated by the refusal of several global actors to succumb to American pressure.

The Rise of Authoritarian Foreign Policy

Abuse of Power:

The constant justification of violent intervention and economic sabotage citing "American National Security" frequently tramples upon the rights of sovereign states.

A "Deranged" Posture:

The bipartisan consensus on confrontation, combined with the possibility of an unhinged individual entering the Oval Office, makes the foreign policy both unpredictable and frighteningly dangerous. It is a policy designed for a global police state, not a collaborative global community.

The Media and the Illusion of Diplomacy

Violence Over Diplomacy:

The US approach routinely prioritizes kinetic action or economic strangulation over true diplomacy, particularly in regional conflicts.

Media Coverage: The mainstream media often reinforces this by framing American coercion as "leadership" and failing to critically scrutinize the devastating human costs of US-led "national security" pursuits abroad.

Conclusion

American foreign policy has become a dangerous authoritarian apparatus that treats other nations as subjects. To survive, it must stop showing power and start showing leadership. True leadership treats other countries as equals, investing in them rather than creating dependency. Without this "surgery," America risks accelerating its decline by clinging to a model of glorified servitude that the world is actively rejecting.

About the Author: Harry Taruva is the Founder and Managing Editor of Hericom Media, the Home of Kwedu News.