The United States’ foreign policy still follows old ideas that don’t work anymore in this fast-growing world. According to experts, the US must be ready to take a step forward. The nation should be involved in other countries’ matters to protect its interests, no matter how significant those interests are or how strong the enemy might be. This way of thinking became prominent after the Cold War. At that time, many Americans were influenced by propaganda.
One of the important ideas of that time was “containment.” This strategy aimed to prevent communism from spreading. It suggested that one nation would follow in the footsteps of another. If one became a communist, others would soon follow. However, the Vietnam War highlighted that strategy was not correct. Although it became the reason for many complexities and political problems, the US kept making efforts to fight. This situation led to great suffering in Southeast Asia.
In 1975, the Vietnam War ended and took the lives of many innocents. It shows that the containment policy didn’t work and needs to be rethought in today’s foreign policy.
Many US officials and government members still believe in the “containment theory” despite the fact that it is outdated and has failed to work successfully. This is clear when looking back at the US history, especially its withdrawal from Afghanistan. On this removal, former President Trump said that
“it was the most embarrassing moment in our nation’s history.”
He and others believe that this removal could lead to a Russia-Ukraine war.
Furthermore, Vice President Kamala Harris said that
“Putin’s agenda is not just about Ukraine.”
She claimed that if it weren’t for the Biden administration,
“Putin would be sitting in Kyiv, looking at the rest of Europe…starting with Poland.”
Many people ignore the real complexities and make foreign policy too simple with slogans” “peace through strength. The media also play an important role in promoting these slogans. This resulted in a foreign policy focused on dominance rather than real leadership. Ignoring many real viewpoints makes it hard to discuss facts and figures.
Also, mistaken beliefs about China, Russia, and India lead to foreign policy actions that fit short-term political goals rather than realistic strategies. In short, US foreign policy needs to better align its ambitions with what it can realistically achieve to avoid overreach.
There are 3 major nations that are in central focus in US foreign policy. It includes China, Russia and India. Russia and China both are enemies of the United States, while India is on the list of friends. This approach is the same as the Cold War idea of containment.
With West, all three nations have difficult histories. China went through a difficult period of foreign control known as the “century of humiliation.” Russia felt let down by NATO expansion after the Berlin Wall came down. India was taken over by the British, leading to lasting issues. To control China’s dominance, the US uses the strategy of economic sanctions. The nations restrict their access to key resources.
The US collaborates with Southeast Asian countries to challenge China. However, not every time does the US understand China’s viewpoint correctly. Chinese leaders consider the Western action a danger to the land. China only wants to make a comparison with the US in terms of security and economy. The nation has a desire to get benefits from the current global system created by the West.
The US foreign policy of containment against Russia has shifted into a proxy war, using Ukraine to weaken Russia’s economy and limit the rise of BRICS+, which could challenge Western influence. Despite two years of heavy military aid and sanctions, Russia’s economy is expected to grow faster than many advanced economies, according to the IMF.
In contrast, Ukraine is entirely dependent on Western support for its survival. The US continues to operate under outdated Cold War ideas about Russia. President Putin has acknowledged that Russia’s military cannot compete with NATO, which is why there is much discussion about nuclear weapons, although he claims they would only be used in extreme situations.
Additionally, the US has had difficulty persuading India to turn away from Russia. India resists pressure from the US to impose sanctions, and recent encounters between Modi and Putin demonstrate how close they are. Since India is non-aligned and unlikely to strike against Russia, the US frequently makes incorrect assumptions about it.
All things considered, American interests should take precedence over political ambitions in US foreign policy. Maintaining control over alleged adversaries could result in needless dangers and disputes. To traverse the complicated global environment of today, a fresh strategy could be required.
