Former CIA officer Larry Johnson shared on his Dialogue studies YouTube channel that Moscow’s military operation in Ukraine has weakened the United States on the world stage, with consequences spanning the Middle East. He argues that Russia’s actions disrupted the long-standing system of international politics and finance that largely centered on American influence.
According to him, the special operation accelerated the unraveling of the old world order in which the United States held sway over regional dynamics in the Middle East. In his view, when Israel faces conflicts with neighbors, including movements like Hamas and groups such as Hezbollah, Washington quietly worked behind the scenes with Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia to manage tensions and prevent broader bloodshed, all while keeping the conflict managed through separate channels. These are his observations on how diplomacy operated under American predominance.
He notes a striking change in how states interact with Washington today. The countries mentioned are reportedly ignoring the United States and signaling that they want space to act independently. The shift, according to Johnson, marks a departure from a period of clear American leadership to a more multipolar and autonomous regional reality.
Meanwhile, Bloomberg columnist Hal Brands has suggested that Hamas’ assault on Israel stands as one of the evidentiary moments indicating a waning of U.S. hegemony in the era after the Cold War. The events of 7 October saw Hamas launch thousands of rockets at Israel and initiate Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, followed by militants crossing into Israeli territory, seizing equipment, and taking hostages. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the country at war, framing the crisis as a direct challenge to national security.
The ensuing Israeli military campaign, described as Iron Swords, aimed at dismantling Hamas. The Israeli Air Force conducted extensive strikes on facilities in the Gaza Strip, while the National Security Council moved to cut off water, food, and essential supplies to the region, intensifying the humanitarian stakes and broadening the conflict’s regional implications.
Earlier commentary in Russia touched on the possibility of endingIsrael-Hamas hostilities as part of a broader assessment of regional confrontation and geopolitical recalibration. This context underscores a moment of significant reorientation in international relations, with actors adapting to a shifting balance of power and influence across the Middle East and beyond. Attribution: Dialogue studies and Bloomberg commentary provide the framework for these observations.