The UN visit of Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa, the leader of Syria’s transitional government who changed his name from Abu Mohammed al-Julani, demonstrates that Western countries are replacing their post-9/11 consensus on counterterrorism cooperation with a sort of narrow geopolitical logic.

The attack near Russia’s capital has sounded the alarm, once again, that terrorism is not far away. The U.S. has backed off from its leadership role, which only removes obstacles for international jihadists. Renewed cooperation is needed now more than ever.

New international institutions, mechanisms and laws — as well as the reform and improvement of existing ones — should no longer be dominated by the West. The shaping of a new global order should be done through multilateral cooperation.

The deadly American hit on the al-Qaida leader has only marginal significance for the global jihadi movement. Clearly, the terror network will not disappear just because it loses a single leader. Nor will the United States change its global anti-terror strategy.

Although its policy is not flawless and may not be replicable by other countries, China’s positive approach has been effective in containing threats. The biased rhetoric of some observers needs to give way to a more fair and in-depth assessment.

The term is used to criticize the United States for its haphazard exit from Afghanistan, but in truth it reflects the plight of U.S. allies — specifically, their inability to exercise their own strategic autonomy. America’s failure may present an opportunity for U.S. allies to cut the apron strings and start acting independently.

The future of the anti-terror campaign in Afghanistan rests both on the Taliban’s own endeavors and the support of the international community. If the lessons of the 20-year campaign against terror can be learned, there is reason to hope.

The notion that America can fight and win all over the world has proved false yet again. The display of panic was an embarrassment that undermined the U.S. military’s reputation for making and executing plans. It should have been clear that this war never was winnable.

By hastily withdrawing American troops from Afghanistan, US President Joe Biden has made a grave mistake, or so many argue. US Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, for example, has called the Taliban’s swift takeover of the country an “even worse sequel to the humiliating fall of Saigon in 1975.” That sequel, top US generals, conservatives, and even some liberals predict, will be characterized by the resurgence of transnational terrorism.

Many challenges lie ahead in China-U.S. relations with regard to Afghanistan. The U.S. will most likely perceive any Chinese policies as an effort to gain the upper hand in geopolitical competition. Meanwhile, China is concerned that the chaos could spill over into Central Asia.