America First in a Leaderless World: End of Influence or New Beginning?

America First in a Leaderless World: End of Influence…

America First in a Leaderless World: End of Influence or New Beginning?

Can America lead without leading?

There was a time when a phone call from Washington could stop an oil shipment, flip a vote at the UN, or shift the direction of an entire region.

That era is over.

In August 2025, the U.S. tried to pressure India to stop buying Russian oil by slapping a 50% tariff on Indian goods. But instead of bowing to American muscle, India doubled down, boosting its Russian imports by as much as 20%. The response from New Delhi wasn’t meek diplomacy. It was defiance.

India accused the West of hypocrisy, demanding others cut ties with Russia while continuing their own billion-dollar trades with Moscow. In this standoff, one thing became brutally clear:

The world is no longer intimidated by Washington.

And that has terrifying implications for U.S. investors, businesses, and anyone who has relied on American economic dominance as a given.

The Collapse of American Leverage

For decades, U.S. foreign policy followed a simple playbook: Control the dollar. Set the rules. Punish those who disobey.

But that formula is breaking down fast. And in its place? A chaotic new multipolar world where “America First” often looks like “America Alone.”

Economic pressure used to work. Now, it backfires. When the U.S. sanctioned Brazil in 2025 over political disputes, President Lula declared, “We will not accept any form of tutelage.” Brazil didn’t fold. It forged deeper ties with China, Russia, and a growing BRICS bloc that now represents 45% of the world’s population and over a third of global GDP.

Military alliances are shifting. China and Russia just launched a massive Siberia to China gas pipeline in direct defiance of U.S. energy dominance. Middle East partners are making oil deals with Beijing. Even long-time allies are hedging, uncertain if Washington can still be counted on.

The U.S. dollar, once the unshakable cornerstone of global finance, is under pressure. The dollar’s share of global reserves has dropped to 58%, its lowest in decades. China and Brazil trade in yuan and reais. Russia has nearly purged the dollar from its trade altogether.

America’s trade leadership is also fading. After ditching deals like the Trans Pacific Partnership, the U.S. left the door open. China walked right through it, helping form RCEP, the largest trade pact in history. The U.S. wasn’t even invited.

These aren’t isolated events. They are signals of something deeper. America’s authority is no longer assumed. It’s being tested, and more often than not, rejected.

From Unipolar to No Polar

What we’re witnessing isn’t a peaceful passing of the baton. It’s a scramble. A global power vacuum where nations act not in unison, but in unilateral sprints.

Institutions America once built to stabilize the world, such as the IMF, the UN, and the WTO, are now either ignored or openly defied. We are not in a new order. We are in an interregnum, a dangerous in-between.

Think of it this way:

We’re not in the aftermath of war. We may be in the prelude to one.

The West no longer dictates global behavior. Instead, power is diffused, unpredictable, and increasingly uncooperative. That makes everything more volatile: energy markets, trade flows, currencies, even peace itself.

And volatility, unchecked, becomes risk.

So What Now? Does America First Mean America Forever Alone?

It doesn’t have to.

But Washington must adapt quickly.

Because here’s the truth, no one in power wants to admit:

The old tools don’t work anymore.

Sanctions, tariffs, and threats now trigger backlash, not compliance. Dollar dominance is no longer a foregone conclusion. Trade rules that once served U.S. interests now happen without us.

Yet, amidst the decline of influence lies an opening, a chance to lead differently.

Four Moves to Reclaim Strategic Advantage

Rebuild Trust, Not Just Power
Allies don’t want ultimatums. They want partnership. Surprise tariffs on India, Brazil, or Europe only deepen suspicion. To lead again, the U.S. must consult, coordinate, and commit. Trust is currency.
Go Digital to Stay Dominant
The GENIUS Act of 2025 opened the door to regulated dollar stablecoins. This isn’t a crypto fad. It’s the digital infrastructure of tomorrow’s global finance. If America embraces stablecoins, it could extend dollar supremacy into the digital age while outflanking China’s push to internationalize the yuan.
Reshore But Don’t Retreat
Reshoring isn’t isolation. It’s leverage. By investing $1.7 trillion in domestic manufacturing, the U.S. is becoming a critical supplier to friends and allies. Think semiconductors, clean energy, and EV batteries. If done right, this becomes the backbone of a trusted global supply chain.
Champion a Better Multilateralism
The old order was exclusive. This time, America must build one that invites emerging powers in. Reform the IMF and World Bank. Offer infrastructure financing that doesn’t trap borrowers in debt. Hold talks with rivals not out of weakness, but to set boundaries that preserve peace.

The Clock Is Ticking

The American-led world isn’t dead. But it is dying if Washington clings to a 20th-century playbook in a 21st-century arena.

The next decade won’t be about dominance. It will be about influence. About being the partner others choose, not the boss they fear.

America First doesn’t have to mean America Alone.

But it will if we don’t move now.

Because in this new era, relevance isn’t granted. It’s earned.

And the longer we wait, the harder it becomes to earn it back.

Stay Sharp,

Gideon Ashwood

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America First in a Leaderless World: End of Influence or New Beginning?

America First in a Leaderless World: End of Influence…

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