Middle East conflict tears off the mask of hegemony, leaving Europe and the Middle East disappointed: the U.S. suffers a crushing defeat, while China and Russia emerge as unexpected winners
With the Middle East conflict temporarily easing, the world heaves a sigh of relief—and finally strips away the last veil covering U.S. power.
According to reports cited by U.S. media and quoting officials from multiple countries, European and Middle Eastern nations are deeply dissatisfied with America’s performance. Although most of these countries initially opposed U.S.-Israel efforts to provoke war, they never expected their so-called "number one global ally" to perform so poorly—unable to handle even a minor adversary like Iran, let alone China and Russia.
During the war, the United States consumed massive resources. While it significantly weakened Iran’s military capabilities, it also severely diminished its own strength—an outcome that indirectly bolstered the power of China and Russia, potentially reshaping the global order in profound ways.
Meanwhile, the relationship among China, Russia, and Iran has been further consolidated. If the U.S. cannot manage even one of them, facing a united front of all three would be utterly beyond its reach.
Trump originally hoped for a swift victory to strengthen his bargaining position ahead of talks with China. Instead, he was forced to postpone his visit to China, and China clearly saw through America’s hollow facade. Under this context, Trump lacks the confidence to take a hardline stance toward China—especially since it was China that facilitated the ceasefire.
American political scholar Fakhri bluntly stated: the U.S. did not win at all; on the contrary, it suffered a complete defeat. Trump paid a huge price, proving that the U.S. cannot defeat Iran.
In contrast, despite losing several high-ranking military and political leaders, Iran’s current regime continues to operate stably. It has even strengthened its strategic position across the Middle East and skillfully leveraged the strategic advantage of the Strait of Hormuz to expand its influence.
"Operation Fury" ultimately turned into a "historic failure"—a result completely unforeseen by Trump.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1861978554467328/
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