US: RENT-A-FRIEND FOREIGN POLICY

Tagline: Dollars can buy friendship—for as long as their value lasts.

INTRODUCTION

As someone deeply rooted in India yet profoundly shaped by American academic generosity—having had my higher research and time in the United States funded by American institutions—I carry within me a genuine affection for both nations. The United States has given immeasurably to the world, and we in India draw tremendous inspiration from American democracy and its enduring principles.

Yet, what disappoints those of us who genuinely admire America is that two and a half centuries after its independence, the essence of authentic friendship appears to elude American foreign policy. It remains bound by Kissinger's cold calculus: “America has no permanent friends or enemies, only interests.” What we in Asia recognize as transactional friendship holds little appeal for nations seeking deeper, more meaningful partnerships.

DEALS WITHOUT DEPTH

Over the past half-century, American foreign policy has essentially rented allies—countries whose loyalty extended only as far as the dollars provided. The world has changed, and those nations that were young after WW II have matured, and the old transactional model may no longer suffice when nations seek authentic relationships built on mutual respect rather than mere economic convenience.

America’s foreign policy is in disrepair—not because of a lack of power or purpose, but because of a fundamental flaw in approach: it is transactional. In chasing short-term strategic wins, the U.S. has traded away long-term trust. It has preferred deals over dialogues, leverage over loyalty, and influence over integrity. The result? A network of shallow relationships with wavering allies, emboldened adversaries, and growing global scepticism.

The problem isn’t just bad optics. It’s systemic. America stopped building friendships and started buying favours. It stopped investing in relationships and started bartering influence. And in doing so, it alienated some of its most natural partners and diluted its moral authority.

CASE STUDY 1: PAKISTAN – A BOUGHT ALLY, NOT A TRUSTED PARTNER

Nowhere is this more evident than in U.S.-Pakistan relations. For decades, America has pumped billions into Pakistan in exchange for strategic favours. Yet the returns have been ambiguous at best—harbouring of terrorists, double games during the Afghan war, and repeated backstabbing. Pakistan is not an ally—it is an asset-for-hire. Transactional funding has empowered its military-industrial complex while theocratic elements continue to thrive. What should have been a value-based partnership turned into a rented relationship.

CASE STUDY 2: IRAQ – DEMOCRACY BY FORCE, NOT BY FRIENDSHIP

The invasion of Iraq wasn’t about building a nation—it was about extracting compliance. Saddam Hussein, once a U.S. ally, was eliminated not through engagement, but force. America could have nudged him toward democratic reforms through diplomatic leverage and regional coordination. Instead, it destroyed the very stability that once held the region together. Iraq today is fragmented, distrustful, and a case study in transactional ambition gone wrong.

CASE STUDY 3: INDIA – A MISHANDLED OPPORTUNITY

India, a civilizational democracy and natural ally of the West, has been treated by the U.S. with conditional interest. Instead of unconditional partnership, Washington has tried to micro-manage India's decisions—lecturing on human rights, imposing trade restrictions, and offering selective defene cooperation. The message to New Delhi has been clear: align on our terms, or don’t expect much. This transactional tone has alienated India, pushing it to build independent power and strategic autonomy rather than fall into the U.S. orbit.

CASE STUDY 4: AFGHANISTAN – EXIT WITHOUT OWNERSHIP

Two decades of engagement ended with a chaotic exit that exposed the hollowness of American commitment. The Afghan government was never treated as a full partner but as a dependent. When strategic patience ran out, so did U.S. presence—abandoning millions to Taliban rule. Again, a transactional mindset—spend money, extract control, cut losses—overrode the need for sustainable institution-building.

CASE STUDY 5: BANGLADESH – TOPPLING A DEMOCRACY

America’s involvement in Bangladesh’s political shifts reveals another disturbing facet of its foreign policy. Despite public claims of supporting democracy, Washington has been accused of backing undemocratic pressures to influence electoral outcomes—favoring governments more pliant to U.S. strategic interests. This undermines the very democratic values America claims to protect and erodes its legitimacy in the eyes of emerging democracies.

CASE STUDY 6: EUROPE – FROM PARTNERSHIP TO PRESSURE

Even in Europe, long-standing allies feel the weight of transactionalism. NATO partners have been subjected to financial threats, trade wars, and inconsistent diplomatic stances. Rather than treating Europe as a co-pilot in global governance, the U.S. increasingly treats it as a customer—demanding dues while ignoring mutual respect. Trust within the transatlantic alliance is fraying.

CASE STUDY 7: AFRICA & SOUTH AMERICA – CONDITIONAL ENGAGEMENT

In Africa and Latin America, U.S. foreign aid and diplomacy are often tethered to compliance with American priorities. Investments come with strings attached, creating a perception of modern-day clientelism. Meanwhile, China’s more consistent and less intrusive economic engagement has gained greater favor, exposing America's strategic short-sightedness.

THE DEEPER FLAW: PRESIDENT-SPECIFIC FOREIGN POLICY

Unlike long-term strategic visions seen in rival powers, American foreign policy is increasingly shaped by presidential cycles. Every four years, the tone, targets, and tactics shift. What one administration builds, another dismantles. This lack of continuity makes America unreliable. Allies hesitate to invest trust when policies vanish with elections.

CONCLUSION: ALLIES CAN'T BE RENTED

Transnationalism has hollowed out the soul of American diplomacy. Nations can’t be bought into lasting friendships. True allies are cultivated through trust, consistency, and shared values—not checks and conditional favours.

If America wants to reclaim global leadership, it must abandon its addiction to deals and reinvest in diplomacy. It must shift from transactional to transformational relationships—ones that are built to last, not to leverage.

Because when foreign policy becomes a marketplace, respect becomes unaffordable.