Published on 20/12/2025 | Last Updated: 12:44 (Makkah Time)
The article by journalist Fareed Zakaria highlights a concerning shift in the United States’ foreign policy under President Trump, a move towards isolationism that contradicts its historical role and immense global power. Zakaria argues that the current administration’s doctrine risks diminishing America’s influence, not by failing, but by deliberately shrinking its ambitions. This analysis centers around the idea of transforming the US from a global superpower into a merely regional one, a concept encapsulated in the chilling slogan “Make America Smaller Again.” The core concern revolves around the potential consequences of this عزلة أمريكية (American isolation) for both the US and the international order.
استراتيجية الأمن القومي الجديدة: العودة إلى عقيدة مونرو؟
Zakaria’s critique focuses on the new US National Security Strategy, which he says directly challenges decades of American global engagement. The strategy advocates for a narrowed definition of US interests, primarily focusing on the Western Hemisphere. This approach, as Zakaria points out, is a modern iteration of the Monroe Doctrine, a 19th-century policy aimed at preventing European interference in the Americas.
However, re-applying a historical doctrine designed for a vastly different America is deeply problematic. The US of the 19th century was a young nation with limited capabilities. Today’s United States is the most powerful nation in history, wielding unprecedented economic, technological, and military influence. To limit itself to the “backyard” is not only unrealistic but also strategically disadvantageous.
حدود التركيز الإقليمي
The emphasis on the Western Hemisphere inherently minimizes the US’s economic footprint in more crucial global power centers. In essence, narrowing focus to a relatively marginal economic zone, compared to Europe and Asia, risks undermining long-established and beneficial relationships. Historically, successful US foreign policy has relied on maintaining strong ties with the major economic hubs worldwide, fostering a global network of interdependence and influence. Siloing itself within the Americas risks severing these vital connections.
تكلفة العزلة: فراغ في السلطة وعدم الاستقرار العالمي
The article rightly asserts that even attempting to become a regional power would come at a steep cost, both for the US and the global system. The sheer scale of American power makes complete disengagement an impossibility. The interconnected nature of the world economy, cybersecurity threats, and global challenges like climate change necessitate sustained US involvement.
This الانسحاب الأمريكي (American withdrawal) wouldn’t simply lead to a quiet re-organization of global power; it would inevitably create a power vacuum. This void would be filled by actors likely less committed to stability and the existing international rules-based order. Zakaria expertly warns of the potential for increased chaos and instability as a result. The historical precedent of the interwar period, marked by isolationism, protectionism, and ultimately, a descent into global conflict, should serve as a cautionary tale.
صعود النزعة الانعزالية وتأثيرها على الهجرة
Zakaria also connects this foreign policy shift to a resurgence of isolationist tendencies within the United States itself. He notes parallels with the 1920s and 30s, a period characterized by nativism, anti-immigrant sentiment, and a fear of a lack of social cohesion. The current administration’s often-alarmist rhetoric regarding immigration, portraying it as an existential threat, reflects this concerning عقلية انعزالية (isolationist mindset).
Successfully integrating immigrants has always been a hallmark of American strength. Demonizing immigration as a threat fundamentally misunderstands the contributions of newcomers and fuels a dangerous inward-looking perspective. Furthermore, the world, as it did a century ago, desperately needs active American leadership to address shared global challenges.
القوة التكنولوجية والاقتصادية: عوامل تمنع الانعزال
Zakaria persuasively argues that the US’s undeniable economic and technological superiority actively prevents true isolation. Its influence permeates global markets, its technology drives innovation worldwide, and its military presence shapes security dynamics across the planet. Attempting to ignore these realities, or to actively curtail US engagement, will not make the nation safer or more prosperous. In fact, it’s likely to have the opposite effect.
The idea of “سياسة خارجية” (foreign policy) itself becomes blurred when a nation is so intrinsically linked to the global system. The US cannot simply dictate terms from afar; its interests are intertwined with the fate of nations everywhere, and effective policymaking requires acknowledging this fundamental truth.
In conclusion, Fareed Zakaria’s insightful analysis serves as a crucial warning against the dangers of American isolationism. The current administration’s attempt to relegate the US to a regional power, driven by a flawed understanding of its own strength and the complexities of the global landscape, risks unleashing instability and ultimately diminishing America’s influence. It’s a path fraught with peril, one that echoes the mistakes of the past and threatens a future of diminished leadership and increased international chaos. It’s vital that policymakers and the public alike recognize the importance of continued American engagement and actively resist the siren call of عزلة أمريكية. What are your thoughts on the future of US foreign policy? Share your insights in the comments below!
