The US is actively dismantling the global systems it created (free trade, collective security), making it the primary driver of global uncertainty, not external challengers like China.

America's unpredictable, "law of the jungle" approach doesn't embolden adversaries like Russia or China, who already operate this way. Instead, it forces traditional allies (Canada, Europe, Japan) to hedge their bets, decouple their interests, and reduce reliance on an unreliable United States for upholding international law.

Shattered by their vulnerability and perceived US unreliability during the Iran conflict, Gulf states are poised for a defense spending spree. Rather than relying solely on the US, they are likely to diversify their military suppliers to include Europe and South Korea, aiming for a more independent, 'armed neutrality' posture.

In response to America's predatory and unpredictable policies, allies are not just complaining; they are actively diversifying their economic relationships to reduce their vulnerability. This is seen in new trade deals like EU-Mercosur and Canada-Indonesia, which consciously bypass the US to build resilience.

Due to perceived US instability, traditional allies in Europe and Canada are proactively diversifying their partnerships. They are creating alternative trade and security networks (e.g., EU-India, Canada-EU) to reduce their dependence on the United States.

With the U.S. stepping back from its traditional leadership role, European countries are creating new, direct alliances to ensure their own security. A notable example is the emerging UK-Scandinavia-Baltic-Poland axis, which signals a fundamental shift in the continent's geopolitical architecture away from a singular reliance on Washington.

China is successfully capitalizing on perceptions of American political instability. By presenting itself as a rational, stable power with a long-term vision, it is attracting allies who are weary of the US's perceived chaotic and unhinged behavior on the world stage.

While the war highlights the danger of the US partnership, Gulf states are counterintuitively forced to deepen their reliance on American military support for immediate defense. This creates a strategic paradox: they need the US for short-term survival but see the alliance as a long-term liability.

Contrary to the belief that Gulf states always wanted a hardline US policy on Iran, their perspective shifted after 2019. When Iran attacked Saudi and UAE assets and the Trump administration failed to respond, they realized the US was an unreliable defender. This prompted them to make their own peace with Iran, a policy directly undermined by the recent US-led war.