What will the coming time be like for America?

Foreign Policy Magazine, in a report by Professor Hal Brands of Johns Hopkins University, examining the consequences of US aggression against Iran, claims that the conflict was not simply a regional crisis in the Middle East, but also a test of the military and strategic capabilities of the United States. According to the author, this war, in addition to having a wide-ranging impact on the global economy and international security, has also exposed the gap between Washington’s global status and responsibilities as a superpower and the actual resources it possesses. According to Foreign Policy magazine, the war in the Persian Gulf has had repercussions beyond the battlefield and has affected global trade, energy security, freedom of navigation, and geopolitical balance. According to the author, one of the most important consequences of this crisis was that the United States was facing increasing limitations in playing a role on multiple fronts simultaneously. The report acknowledges that the United States and the Israeli government demonstrated their military and technological capabilities in the early stages of the conflict, but at the same time emphasizes that tactical successes do not necessarily mean the achievement of strategic goals. According to Foreign Policy magazine, the ongoing war has led to a massive drain on US weapons stocks and increased pressure on the US armed forces, a matter that has now become a cause for concern in Washington’s defense circles. Citing assessments by American think tanks, the author emphasizes that a significant amount of long-range missiles and advanced defense systems have been used during military operations. The report states that Tomahawk missiles, GASSM, SM-3 interceptors, THAAD and Patriot systems are among the equipment that play a significant role in US military strategies in various regions of the world and that their preparation and transportation will require extensive time and investment. According to the report, even before the war, many American experts had warned about the limited US weapons stockpiles to face a protracted conflict. The current rate of weapons production suggests that it could take years to fully restore some of these stocks. The report also mentions the pressure on US forces, with the aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford and other US strategic assets being repeatedly moved between different regions of the world in the past few months. The author describes this situation as a symptom of Washington’s overextended military responsibilities and the difficulty of managing multiple crises simultaneously. Foreign Policy magazine, in another part of its report, has linked the roots of this challenge to the past years. According to the author, various US officials, from Barack Obama to Donald Trump and Joe Biden, have repeatedly emphasized focusing on East Asia and competing with China, but developments in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, and other international crises have prevented this goal from being fully achieved. The author believes that America’s most important strategic thinking now concerns competition with China. Beijing has pursued an extensive program to enhance its naval, missile, and nuclear capabilities in the past few years, while also focusing on increasing military preparedness in its surrounding regions. In such circumstances, a reduction in a portion of US military reserves and capabilities could affect security calculations in East Asia. Some officials and experts from America’s allies in Asia have also expressed concern about the consequences of shifting a portion of Washington’s military resources to the Middle East. Delays in the delivery of some military equipment to Asian allies and the relocation of a portion of defense systems have raised questions about the US ability to respond to multiple crises simultaneously. The author emphasizes that the consequences of the war were not limited to weaknesses, the conflict showed that modern technologies, including drones, intelligent systems and artificial intelligence, will play an increasing role on the battlefield of the future. The experience of this war is of great importance in shaping future strategies for the US military and other powers. The United States still possesses vast military, economic, and technological capabilities, and the ultimate outcome of geopolitical competition will depend on the future decisions of Washington and its allies. Increasing the defense budget, developing military industries, and strengthening cooperation with international partners are among the options being discussed in US policymaking circles. The war against Iran was not simply a regional conflict for Washington, but a warning about the challenges posed by the expansion of American global responsibilities. America’s response to these challenges in the coming years could have a decisive impact on the balance of global power, its relations with allies, and the trend of competition with great powers.