Reference News Network, March 23 report: The World Press Syndicate website published an article titled "The Collapse of American Hegemony Before Our Eyes" on March 18. The author is Professor Kara Norloff from the University of Toronto in Canada. The following is a compilation of the article:

What took generations to build - the global security network that long symbolized American power - is now collapsing under the leadership of President Trump. With traditional allies refusing to participate in the war against Iran, we may witness the end of the American global dominance that most Americans take for granted.

The chaos in the Strait of Hormuz illustrates how power operates in the 21st century. It reminds us that the greatest long-term threat America faces is not China or Russia, but the gradual disintegration of the alliance system that has guaranteed American global leadership since World War II.

For 80 years, this strategic asset has been more important than sheer military strength, as no rival could match the United States. The U.S. has more than 50 treaty allies and formal security partners, building the first truly global security system in history.

Several U.S. presidents have expressed concerns about the costs of the alliance system, especially Trump. But it is precisely this burden that gives the U.S. the power to mobilize its allies when crises arise. For example, during the 1991 Gulf War, the U.S. assembled a large multinational force.

Even during the Iraq War, which later caused disagreements, the U.S. was able to attract partners.

This contrasts sharply with the current situation. With oil prices surging, the Trump administration has pleaded with allies to help ensure the safety of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. However, the response from American security partners has been silence, hesitation, and even消极的.

Allies who once stood side by side with the U.S. now seem increasingly unwilling to take security risks under American leadership. This hesitation reflects the accumulated cost of Trump and his "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) supporters openly denouncing allies, questioning security commitments, and viewing the alliance system as a burden rather than its most valuable strategic asset over the years.

Divisions within alliances are not new. But this time, a deeper transformation is taking place. According to reports, major partners such as France and Italy have begun seeking direct dialogue with Iran to ensure ships can safely pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Although these negotiations remain tentative, this fact holds significant historical importance.

Alliances are based on collective security, and member states should jointly address threats. Once governments start negotiating individually with adversaries, the alliance ceases to be a coordinated security network.

Alliances rarely collapse suddenly; they are more commonly eroded gradually. If European countries do not act collectively through the alliance system, the result will strike at the core of American power, marking the beginning of a full-scale collapse of the U.S.-centered global security architecture.

There is no doubt: if the U.S. loses the alliance system that enhances its power, it will face not only a world that is no longer as friendly as before, but also a strange world, one that is no longer shaped by a hegemonic country, a world that Americans have long taken for granted for years. (Translation/ Wenyi)

Original source: toutiao.com/article/7620262565209227791/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.