Editor's Note - "America - The self-proclaimed “leader of the free world,” the “indispensable nation,” and—let’s be honest—the worst friend you can ever make if you are a nation in need of any kind."
America’s Unprecedented Betrayal
The United States has a long history of turning its back on allies. It has orchestrated coups against democratically elected governments, abandoned those who trusted it when conflicts became inconvenient, and engaged in morally dubious foreign policy. There is no need to romanticise America’s past actions; they speak for themselves. Yet, despite this chequered history, there has never been a moment quite like this—where the United States has so openly sided against a democratic ally in favour of a ruthless dictator waging a genocidal war of aggression. At no point in modern history has Washington so deliberately aligned itself with an authoritarian regime, betraying the very values it claims to uphold.
Never before has the United States reduced its global leadership to little more than a protection racket—demanding tribute from other nations in exchange for security while making it clear that those who fail to comply risk falling prey to stronger powers. And rarely, if ever, has the justification for such a foreign policy relied so blatantly on outright falsehoods—lies designed to excuse the abandonment of a nation fighting for its survival. The statements made in recent days by President Trump regarding Ukraine, Russia, and the leaders of these two nations do not merit repetition. To restate his words, even in the act of refutation, would grant them an intellectual legitimacy they do not deserve. Some ideas are so fundamentally unserious, so detached from both reality and principle, that engaging with them only serves to elevate them. And when it comes to matters of profound moral consequence, debating falsehoods and self-serving fabrications is beneath the dignity of serious people. Instead, it is more useful to focus on the consequences of a betrayal of this magnitude—consequences that will extend far beyond Ukraine and must be understood in the broader context of this administration’s simultaneous retreat from transatlantic security cooperation and its imposition of tariffs on America’s most reliable trading partners. The message being sent from Washington could not be clearer: The United States is no longer a trustworthy partner.
A Nation That Cannot Be Relied Upon
America’s unreliability is evident on the battlefield. The president is not merely preparing to abandon Ukraine; he is actively endorsing a deal that would see its future determined without the involvement of its own democratically elected leaders. He has echoed Putin’s false narrative about the origins of the war and is demanding that Ukraine, in exchange for past military support, surrender its rights to vast reserves of rare-earth minerals—without any guarantee of future assistance. No nation engaged in a life-or-death struggle should entrust its survival to a partner so transparently transactional, so willing to capitulate to tyranny.
This unreliability extends beyond warfighting; it undermines the very concept of deterrence. If Ukraine—three years into a brutal war, with vast swathes of its land occupied and its defences stretched thin—can be abandoned so readily, what hope do other nations have? Estonia, Finland, Taiwan, South Korea, and even the United Kingdom (despite whatever illusions it may still hold about a “special relationship” with Washington) must all now confront a sobering reality: If America can betray Ukraine at such a critical moment, why should any other country assume it would stand by them?
This administration’s actions have already made the answer plain, but if further clarification were needed, senior officials have spelled it out in public statements—from the Munich Security Conference to other high-profile international forums. The world is being warned, in no uncertain terms, that America’s security commitments are conditional, fleeting, and subject to political expediency.
Iran: The Original “It’s Not You, It’s Me” Breakup
To truly appreciate America’s long history of betraying its so-called allies, we must begin with Iran, the original victim of Washington’s reckless and short-sighted diplomacy. In 1953, the CIA—gripped by an enthusiastic desire to “promote democracy”—orchestrated a coup to overthrow the country’s democratically elected Prime Minister, Mohammad Mossadegh. His crime? Daring to nationalise Iran’s oil industry, which American and British corporations were quite fond of siphoning for themselves.
In his place, the U.S. installed the Shah, a leader so beloved by his people that, in 1979, they overthrew him in an uprising that saw American diplomats taken hostage for 444 days. Since then, relations between Iran and the U.S. have been a masterclass in mutual hostility, complete with sanctions, threats, and Washington’s constant bafflement over why Iran doesn’t trust it. It’s a textbook case of “I’ll destroy your government, then act surprised when you refuse to be friends.”
Afghanistan: From Cherished Ally to Forgotten Acquaintance
During the 1980s, America found its favourite anti-Soviet project: the Afghan Mujahideen. These rugged fighters were precisely the kind of people Washington wanted on its side against the USSR. Billions of dollars in weapons and cash—including Stinger missiles—were funnelled to them by the CIA. Nothing says “we believe in you” quite like an endless supply of arms.
However, by the 1990s, the Mujahideen had evolved into something else entirely—the Taliban. At this point, America developed a sudden case of amnesia: “Mujahideen? Taliban? Sorry, never heard of them.” When 2001 rolled around, the U.S. was bombing the very militants it had once armed and trained.
But the true masterpiece of betrayal came in 2021, when the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan so abruptly that even the Taliban seemed taken aback. Afghans who had risked their lives working with American forces? Left behind like last season’s leftovers. A 20-year war, trillions spent, thousands dead—only for Washington to shrug and move on. A shining example of what it means to be America’s “friend.”
The Kurds: Betrayed Again, and Again… and Again
If betrayal were an Olympic sport, the U.S. would take home gold for its treatment of the Kurds. In 1991, after the Gulf War, America encouraged Kurdish rebels to rise up against Saddam Hussein. When Saddam brutally crushed them, Washington responded with a heartfelt “Our thoughts and prayers are with you.”
Fast forward to 2014, and the Kurds were suddenly back in Washington’s good books—this time as the key force in the fight against ISIS. Kurdish fighters shed blood to battle jihadists, with America singing their praises.
Then came 2019, when Donald Trump casually gave Turkey the green light to invade Kurdish-held territory in Syria. His justification? “It’s time for us to get out of these ridiculous endless wars.” The Kurds, once again left to fend for themselves, learned the hard way that being an American ally means being useful only until Washington decides otherwise.
Ukraine: America’s Latest “If you are rich they let you do it” Relationship
These days, Ukraine is the current recipient of America’s conditional affection. Since 2014, Washington has repeatedly promised to stand by Kyiv in its fight against Russian aggression—except, of course, when it doesn’t.
Take, for example, Donald Trump’s “perfect phone call” to President Zelenskyy, in which he effectively tried to blackmail Ukraine into investigating Joe Biden. Or the repeated congressional battles over military aid, which have left Ukrainian forces rationing bullets while U.S. politicians bicker over their own border policies. Washington’s support for Ukraine is about as dependable as a long-range weather forecast—solid one moment, unpredictable the next. Still, at least Kyiv got some HIMARS missiles and a few viral Zelenskyy memes out of the deal.
Bonus Betrayals: Because America is basically Thaddu ke Laddu at this point
America’s history of discarding allies is far too extensive to be captured in just four examples. So here are a few honourable mentions:
• South Vietnam – Promised democracy, ended up with napalm, Agent Orange, and a desperate helicopter evacuation from a Saigon rooftop.
• Saddam Hussein – Once a CIA-backed ally, later executed after Washington decided he had weapons of mass destruction—except he didn’t.
• Pakistan – Designated a “major non-NATO ally” while simultaneously being bombarded with U.S. drone strikes. To top it off, Washington was shocked to discover that Osama bin Laden had been hiding there the whole time. Awkward.
America’s Foreign Policy: A Handbook on Treachery
At its core, U.S. foreign policy operates on a bizarre combination of sentimental rhetoric and ruthless pragmatism. America is the kind of friend who will shower you with affection when it needs something, gaslight you when you question its loyalty, and then ghost you the moment your usefulness expires. The pattern is always the same:
1. Love-Bombing: “We share values! Here, have some weapons!”
2. Gaslighting: “We never actually promised permanent support. Also, here’s a sanction.”
3. Ghosting: [Disappears. Blocks number. Sends drone strike.
A Foreign Policy of Extortion
This shift in American policy is not limited to military alliances; it extends to economic relationships as well. The administration has embraced a brazenly mercantilist and extractivist approach—one that seeks not only to strip Ukraine of its natural resources as the price of its survival but also to impose tariffs on close allies, including Canada, under the laughable pretext that Canada is somehow exploiting the United States.
Washington is no longer even pretending to uphold a rules-based international order. Instead, it is operating on the logic of a mob boss: pay up, or suffer the consequences.
What Happens Next?
So what happens when America turns against its allies—even in existential conflicts—reduces its alliances to little more than financial shakedowns, openly celebrates the dictator in Moscow, and presumes to negotiate directly with him over the fate of millions of Ukrainians and vast tracts of sovereign territory that no nation has the right to claim by force? And what happens when all of this is justified with a torrent of shameless lies? The truth is, nobody knows. But the consequences of such a reckless and profound betrayal will not be contained to Ukraine. They will ripple outward, shaking the very foundations of the international order.
And when that happens, the United States may find that, having abandoned its friends, it has fewer left than it expects. Ultimately, America’s alliances are not built on loyalty or trust but on transactional convenience—a Tinder-style approach to geopolitics. To borrow from Orwell, all allies are equal, but some are more equal than others. So, if you’re a nation looking for a dependable friend, you might be better off turning to literally anyone else.
In the meantime, let’s all raise a toast to America—the last country you’d ever want holding your drink.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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