Is America Overextending Itself?

{
  "authors": [
    "Stephen Wertheim"
  ],
  "type": "legacyinthemedia",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
  ],
  "collections": [],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "americanStatecraft",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
  "programAffiliation": "ASP",
  "programs": [
    "American Statecraft"
  ],
  "projects": [],
  "regions": [
    "North America",
    "United States"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Foreign Policy"
  ]
}

In The Media

Is America Overextending Itself?

The direction in which Washington seems to be heading is on one level a continuation of U.S. global primacy. But on another level, it’s something qualitatively different, where the United States faces real risks of a great-power conflict for the perpetual future.

By Stephen Wertheim

Published on Aug 24, 2022

Foreign Policy

About the Author

Stephen Wertheim

Senior Fellow, American Statecraft Program

Stephen Wertheim is a senior fellow in the American Statecraft Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Recent Work

Q&A
Ahead of the Ankara Summit, NATO’s Mood Has Changed
- +1
  Sophia Besch, Alper Coşkun, Nate Reynolds, …
Other
Unpacking Trump’s National Security Strategy
- +18
  James M. Acton, Saskia Brechenmacher, Cecily Brewer, …

Foreign Policy North America United States

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

More Work from Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center

Commentary
Diwan
In the Trump Gaza Plan, Diplomatic Failure is Success
By failing to address Palestinian representation, the current process is bound to lead to just another temporary arrangement.
Nathan J. Brown
Article
From Hormuz to the Maghreb: The Geopolitical Reach of a Gulf Crisis
Morocco and Algeria, each in its own way, are having to navigate the global economic fallout of the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran.
Yasmine Zarhloule
Commentary
Diwan
New Syria, Old Lebanon: Absence of the State
Any move by the United States to make good on Trump’s suggestion that Washington persuade Damascus to confront Hezbollah militarily would have catastrophic consequences.
Kheder Khaddour
Commentary
Diwan
Lebanon Should Try to Place Hezbollah on the U.S.-Iran Table
As talks begin between Washington and Tehran, Beirut has an opening to advance a regional plan for the party’s disarmament.
Michael Young
Commentary
Diwan
Board Up Donald Trump’s Failed Board of Peace
What is behind Marco Rubio’s announcement that the body is now an international nongovernmental organization?
Zaha Hassan

More Work from Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center

Commentary

Diwan

In the Trump Gaza Plan, Diplomatic Failure is Success

By failing to address Palestinian representation, the current process is bound to lead to just another temporary arrangement.

Nathan J. Brown

Article

From Hormuz to the Maghreb: The Geopolitical Reach of a Gulf Crisis

Morocco and Algeria, each in its own way, are having to navigate the global economic fallout of the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran.

Yasmine Zarhloule

Commentary

Diwan

New Syria, Old Lebanon: Absence of the State

Any move by the United States to make good on Trump’s suggestion that Washington persuade Damascus to confront Hezbollah militarily would have catastrophic consequences.