The “Epic Fury” military strikes launched by the Trump administration against Iran have dragged the United States into a strategic dilemma rarely seen since World War II: Bogged down in a war of attrition by a regional power wielding asymmetric tactics, it can neither prevail nor fully withdraw. Its military cards are nearly played out, European allies have drawn clear lines, Middle Eastern partners simmer with resentment and the space for diplomatic maneuver has shrunk dramatically.

Repeated U.S. military interventions and alignment with Israeli strategic priorities have eroded American credibility in the Middle East and weakened global confidence in U.S. leadership. The United States can restore its strategic influence only through diplomatic consistency, restraint, and a more independent regional policy.

The Iran and Ukraine wars have shifted major-power competition from military confrontation to control over global energy routes, critical infrastructure, and supply chains.

The current U.S. policy toward Southeast Asia is generating a range of negative effects. If the United States fails to adjust its competitive, confrontational and self-serving foreign policy, its influence in the region is likely to face further decline.

Donald Trump’s fixation on Cuba is driven by a combination of strategic and political considerations: a “Western Hemisphere first” approach, tactics to advance the Trump Doctrine and the practical aim of replicating the Venezuelan model to bolster the U.S. president’s midterm election prospects.

Even as Israeli bombs rained down on Lebanon, most of the world breathed a cautious sigh of relief when news broke that Pakistan had mediated a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, with the goal of reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

The visit of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to the United States showcased the internal solidarity of the alliance. But an official U.S. report warned Tokyo against escalating tensions with China.

It’s no secret that the relationship between Asia’s two largest states is far from friendly, but the present window of opportunity for new global leaders to take center-stage could turn things around if both play to their strengths.

The U.S.-Israel war with Iran is exposing widening reluctance among American allies to support the conflict, signaling potential erosion in U.S. global influence. At the same time, moves to bypass the U.S. dollar in oil trade, amid growing Chinese involvement, could challenge the petrodollar and reshape the global energy order.