![The American Century Ends in the Middle East](https://cdn.magzter.com/1430147033/1683199357/articles/MJGoaUMcO1683259362506/THE-AMERICAN-CENTURY-ENDS-IN-THE-MIDDLE-EAST.jpg)
CHINESE OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS OFTEN echo a phrase of President Xi Jinping's about "great changes unseen in a century." Increasingly that line seems less like propaganda and more like a simple statement of a vast transformation in the world order.
This overhaul, years in the making, is taking the clearest shape right now in the Middle East, a region where the U.S. has devoted many resources in the 21st century. In March, China helped arrange a peace deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia, taking the kind of broker role in the region long held by the U.S. Washington currently has no diplomatic ties with Tehran and relations with Riyadh have grown strained.
"We bluster, we threaten, we menace, we sanction, we send the Marines, we bomb," says Chas Freeman, a veteran U.S. diplomat, "but we don't ever use the arts of persuasion."
Freeman was principal interpreter for President Richard Nixon on his visit to China in 1972. The trip ultimately resulted in the U.S. recognizing the People's Republic over Taiwan and the opening of an embassy in Beijing, where Freeman served as deputy chief of mission. Now he tells Newsweek, Washington's "moment of diplomatic glory" is long over. "What has happened is that the American ability to coerce is declining," he says. "We seem to be approaching the world as though we still have an unchallenged authority that we imagined we did at the end of the Cold War."
Many nations are pursuing their own paths, sometimes called "strategic autonomy." The concept remains a hallmark of India's non-aligned foreign policy, even as it improves relations with the U.S. It is also gaining traction with once-close U.S. friends such as Saudi Arabia, and has appeared in comments by French President Emmanuel Macron following his April visit to Beijing.
この記事は Newsweek Europe の May 12, 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、8,500 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Newsweek Europe の May 12, 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、8,500 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
![The Fight To Ban Child Marriage](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/9708/1731957/Bn6wwccTp1718362066129/crp_THE-FIGHT-TO-BAN-CHILD-MARRIAGE.jpg)
The Fight To Ban Child Marriage
Under-18s can legally wed in most U.S. states but young spouses are often left physically, emotionally and economically vulnerable, campaigners say
![Major League Error](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/9708/1731957/l9PbkYmR51718363275700/MAJOR-LEAGUE-ERROR.jpg)
Major League Error
Why baseball fans have long thought Ty Cobb to be a racist when he wasn't
![The TikTok Election](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/9708/1731957/GkoGFXO5C1718362867813/THE-TIKTOK-ELECTION.jpg)
The TikTok Election
With both Donald Trump and Joe Biden now on the app, could it help determine the next U.S. president in November?
![Failure to Deliver](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/9708/1731957/xQ7JRVNRL1718362474668/FAILURE-TO-DELIVER.jpg)
Failure to Deliver
Multinational companies embraced Chinese factories to lower costs. Their excessive reliance ended up being a central cause of the COVID supply chain meltdown
![BEST SPECIALISTS & SURGEONS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/9708/1731957/k5h3ak1a-1718361137636/BEST-SPECIALISTS-SURGEONS.jpg)
BEST SPECIALISTS & SURGEONS
FINDING THE BEST MEDICAL SPECIALIST IS A DAUNTING TASK for anyone requiring specific treatment.
![SURGEONS MAGIC TOUCH](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/9708/1731957/jf6JhFHJw1718359763107/SURGEONS-MAGIC-TOUCH.jpg)
SURGEONS MAGIC TOUCH
Americans turn down syringes but go UNDER SCALPELS. What do these doctors know that the rest of medicine doesn't?
![ARABIAIAN MIGHT](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/9708/1724327/4_74oo9zN1717698801749/ARABIAIAN-MIGHT.jpg)
ARABIAIAN MIGHT
SAUDI ARABIA'S INCREASING STRENGTH MEANS IT NOW HAS MUCH MORE CLOUT WITH ITS PARTNERS, INCLUDING THE U.S.
![Bringing Trump's Trial to Life](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/9708/1724327/w4Y7L6jEy1717698240148/BRINGING-TRUMPS-TRIAL-TO-LIFE.jpg)
Bringing Trump's Trial to Life
Sketch artist Isabelle Brourman tells Newsweek what it was like covering the former president’s court case
![Iran Examines the Nuclear Option](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/9708/1724327/wZ6f99fHM1717697070537/IRAN-EXAMINES-THE-NUCLEAR-OPTION.jpg)
Iran Examines the Nuclear Option
Tehran’s rhetoric could spark an arms race in the Middle East like never before
![Climate Conviction at What Price?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/9708/1724327/I0pJRJSkn1717696240028/CLIMATE-CONVICTION-AT-WHAT-PRICE.jpg)
Climate Conviction at What Price?
Fifty years ago experts doubted Americans would pay to save the environment. Only some of their fears are still true