By far, it is widely agreed that the USA is one of the most admired countries in the world due to its robust economy, strong military power, innovation capability, and, above all, the freedom of speech and personal liberty enjoyed by its citizens. In view of this, many people from across the world, particularly from developing countries, have shown interest in visiting the US for higher studies or jobs. Among these migrants, many aspire to obtain US citizenship. Due to its large land area and relatively low population density of about 38 per square kilometre, the US has been receptive to migrants entering the country. What is particularly noteworthy is that most migrants to the US have been able to integrate into the national mainstream fairly comfortably, without facing any serious ethnic issues. So far, so good.
However, there is also another side to the image of the US, which has been gaining ground strongly, particularly during the past several months.
After the end of World War II, with the US emerging as a strong economic and military power, a sort of superiority complex appears to have influenced the leadership of US governments. US governments seem to have developed the view that the USA has a role in policing the world. With such an outlook, the US has sought to maintain its dominant power over the world at any cost. As a result, it has interfered in the affairs of several countries in one way or another, trying to influence the course of events in those countries in its favour. It can readily be seen that in many conflicts and wars that have taken place in the world in the last few decades, the US has played either a direct or indirect role.
While its role in the wars in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq is very well known, there are perhaps only a few countries in the world where the USA has not sought to exert its influence by military power or other means, sometimes even to ensure regime change.
While such an interventionist approach by the US has not escaped the attention of the world, people around the globe have largely watched US actions silently, though with some concern.
However, the recent forced intervention in Venezuela by the USA, reportedly going to the extent of arresting the President and his wife and airlifting them to the USA, has certainly shocked the world. Further, the USA’s claim that Canada should become the 51st state of the USA, that Greenland must become part of the USA, and the warning issued to Cuba that it could be targeted by the USA have created a sense of frustration about the US approach. Many people suspect that the USA has become an arrogant country, believing it can do whatever it wants with little regard for world opinion.
In the name of the “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) policy, the USA appears to think that its national interest should be the only matter of prime importance and has adopted policies that decisively disrupt the world order. The decision of the USA not to honour the regulations of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and to impose tariffs on imports from several countries has particularly caused the world, including many former admirers of the USA, to re-examine the recent behaviour of the US government.
The ongoing war launched by the USA against Iran, with what many see as no justifiable reason, seems to have significantly damaged the image of the USA in the eyes of the world. The justification offered by the USA for attacking Iran, killing Iranian leaders and officials, and constantly praising itself for damaging infrastructure and other installations in Iran has created a growing sense of anger about US behaviour. People around the world increasingly feel that some way must be found to restrain the USA so that it will abandon what is seen as a warlord-like attitude.
In attacking Iran using military bases located in Middle Eastern countries and elsewhere, countries such as the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain face the brunt of the conflict, as Iran has been attacking them in retaliation, particularly because US forces have been using bases in those countries to launch attacks.
In the wake of this Iran–USA war, global energy supplies have been seriously disrupted, world trade routes have been affected, and the economies of several countries are facing serious crises.
In the past, the USA has participated in several conflicts and wars around the world, but these did not disrupt the global economy and trade to the extent seen now. The world is aghast to hear the US President praising the attack on Iran and telling other countries not to worry about disruptions to energy supplies, claiming that such disruption is necessary to defeat Iran.
All said and done, the USA appears to be losing the world’s goodwill due to its aggressive actions and its apparent lack of consideration for the problems faced by other countries.
It is not clear whether US citizens are fully aware of the developing sentiment against the USA, as the war is not taking place on US soil and American citizens continue to live safely.
Nevertheless, it may take a very long time for the USA and its citizens to erase the adverse world opinion that has now developed against the country.
