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

Other
"I Don’t Think Trump Wants to Pull America Out of NATO"
- Stephen Wertheim
Q&A
Ahead of the Ankara Summit, NATO’s Mood Has Changed
- +1
  Sophia Besch, Alper Coşkun, Nate Reynolds, …

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 Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center

Commentary
Carnegie Politika
As It Turns 25, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Reflects the New World Order
With the growth in points of friction between the great powers, organizations like the SCO will continue to play a role in the strategic adaptation of the smaller powers caught between them.
Temur Umarov
Commentary
Carnegie Politika
Russia Is Exporting Its Fuel Crisis to Central Asia
When faced with fuel shortages in the past, Central Asian governments could always count on additional supplies from Moscow. That safety net no longer exists.
Galiya Ibragimova
Commentary
Carnegie Politika
Parliamentary Elections in Occupied Ukraine Risk Backfiring for the Kremlin
Despite unhappiness on the ground, Moscow is determined to use both carrot and stick to ensure there is record support for United Russia in occupied Ukraine.
Konstantin Skorkin
Commentary
Carnegie Politika
Lukashenko’s Concessions to Kyiv Reflect Russia’s Weakness
The recent damage inflicted by Ukrainian drones and missiles on Russia has made Belarus aware of its own vulnerabilities—and surprisingly amenable to Kyiv’s demands.
Artyom Shraibman
Commentary
Carnegie Politika
Iran War Fallout Gifts Putin Diplomatic Victory at ASEAN Summit
Russia looks set to reap economic benefits from closer ties with Southeast Asian countries that are keen to find reliable energy suppliers and diversify trade ties.
Alexander Gabuev

More Work from Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

As It Turns 25, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Reflects the New World Order

With the growth in points of friction between the great powers, organizations like the SCO will continue to play a role in the strategic adaptation of the smaller powers caught between them.

Temur Umarov

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

Russia Is Exporting Its Fuel Crisis to Central Asia

When faced with fuel shortages in the past, Central Asian governments could always count on additional supplies from Moscow. That safety net no longer exists.

Galiya Ibragimova

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

Parliamentary Elections in Occupied Ukraine Risk Backfiring for the Kremlin

Despite unhappiness on the ground, Moscow is determined to use both carrot and stick to ensure there is record support for United Russia in occupied Ukraine.

Konstantin Skorkin

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

Lukashenko’s Concessions to Kyiv Reflect Russia’s Weakness

The recent damage inflicted by Ukrainian drones and missiles on Russia has made Belarus aware of its own vulnerabilities—and surprisingly amenable to Kyiv’s demands.

Artyom Shraibman

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

Iran War Fallout Gifts Putin Diplomatic Victory at ASEAN Summit

Russia looks set to reap economic benefits from closer ties with Southeast Asian countries that are keen to find reliable energy suppliers and diversify trade ties.

Alexander Gabuev