The Shifting Global Order: How the US Can Lead Amidst Rising Chinese and russian Influence
(Image: An unidentified missile, Kharkiv, ukraine, january 2024. Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy / Reuters)
The international landscape is undergoing a fundamental change.While the United States remains a global power, the rise of China and Russia, coupled with growing dissatisfaction with traditional Western-led institutions, is fostering a new era of geopolitical alignment. Beijing and moscow are actively constructing alternative frameworks - notably through the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and BRICS – not merely as regional blocs, but as incubators for a counter-Western world order. Ignoring this shift is not an option; proactive, innovative U.S. leadership is crucial to navigate this evolving reality and safeguard American interests.
The Rise of Eurasian-Centric Institutions
For decades, the United States has held a comparatively limited degree of control over global organizations like the United Nations and the G-20. In contrast, China and Russia exert significantly greater influence within the SCO and BRICS. These institutions are strategically leveraged to promote alternative norms, challenge existing trade practices, and cultivate a narrative of global legitimacy for their respective agendas.
The expansion of both the SCO and BRICS – welcoming new dialog partners across the Global South – is a intentional strategy to project influence beyond Eurasia. This isn’t simply about economic cooperation; it’s about building a network of nations increasingly receptive to a vision of the world order that diverges from the post-World War II consensus.
The tangible effects of these initiatives are often subtle, but their sustained growth underscores a critical point: a growing number of nations are expressing dissatisfaction with the status quo. China’s extensive progress financing in Africa, Asia, and even Europe has been especially effective in building goodwill and influence.While the U.S. dollar remains the dominant global currency, the SCO and BRICS are actively pursuing de-dollarization through currency swaps and cross-border payment systems, chipping away at american economic leverage.
A Response Forged in Alliance: Strengthening Partnerships in a New Era
The assertive actions of China and Russia, particularly Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, have served as a catalyst for renewed cooperation among U.S. allies.this isn’t a return to the old order, but a recalibration driven by shared concerns and a recognition of the need for collective strength.
We’ve seen this manifested in several key developments:
* Deepened NATO Partnerships: NATO has significantly strengthened its relationships with key Indo-pacific partners like Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea, recognizing the interconnectedness of global security challenges.
* Enhanced Intelligence Sharing: the Five Eyes intelligence alliance (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the united Kingdom, and the United States) has prioritized enhanced information sharing and supply chain security.
* G-7 Expansion: The G-7 has consistently invited Australia, india, and South Korea to participate in its summits, signaling a broader commitment to inclusive multilateralism.
These developments demonstrate a clear understanding among U.S. allies that collective action is essential to address the challenges posed by a more assertive China and Russia. However, these coalitions require consistent and proactive U.S. engagement to reach their full potential.
The Imperative of American Leadership: Reimagining the Alliance System
The Trump administration’s focus on burden-sharing, while critically important, represents a limited approach to the broader strategic challenge. U.S. allies are stepping up, but they cannot fully realize their potential without robust American leadership and a clear vision for the future.
The global order established eighty years ago, under U.S. leadership, requires a fundamental overhaul. Here are concrete steps the U.S. can take:
* Leverage the G-7 Plus: Transform the G-7 Plus – an organization of conflict-affected countries – into a dedicated forum for cooperation on critical issues like securing critical mineral supply chains and countering transnational criminal networks.
* Synchronize Quad Initiatives: Convene a joint meeting of the two “Quad” groupings – the Indo-Pacific Quad (Australia, India, Japan, and the U.S.) and the European Quad (France, Germany, the U.K., and the U.S.) – to coordinate export controls, industrial policies, and technology development. This would create a powerful synergy between regional security architectures.
* Invest in Proactive Diplomacy: Beyond defense spending, the U.S. must actively engage in diplomatic initiatives that promote shared values,strengthen economic ties,and address the underlying drivers of discontent that fuel Chinese and Russian influence.
The Risk of Isolation and the Path forward
U.S. allies will continue to forge closer ties with one
