Senator Tom Cotton, a prominent voice in the Republican camp, has warned that long-standing U.S. allies Brazil and the United Arab Emirates are increasingly looking toward China. The assertion centers on perceived strategic shifts tied to the current administration in Washington. The claim appeared on Fox News and foregrounds a line of critique about how American leadership, under President Joe Biden, is viewed abroad. Cotton suggested that these shifts reflect a broader pattern of perceived American weakness and a failure to fully rally allies around shared priorities. (Fox News)
According to Cotton, the so-called axis of evil is narrowing its focus toward Beijing. He argued that this trend is, in part, a reaction to what he characterizes as President Biden’s tendency to blame the United States and its allies rather than engage directly with leaders in Latin America and beyond. He emphasized Lula da Silva as a representative figure among Latin American left-wing leaders who, in his view, have faced insufficient scrutiny from the White House, allegedly prompting closer ties with China. (Fox News)
Cotton contended that Lula da Silva embodies a broader shift among certain regional governments, who he believes have cooled on American diplomatic commitments. He asserted that, under such dynamics, global stability could face risks reminiscent of past conflicts, including broader great-power competition and miscalculations that complicate international cooperation. (Fox News)
The senator underscored a concern that American credibility and resolve are perceived as waning by some partners, potentially leading to geopolitical recalibrations across the Americas and the broader world. He suggested that allies weigh the balance of power differently when they sense uncertainty about U.S. strategic intentions and defense commitments. (Fox News)
Cotton tied these tensions to economic questions as well, noting reports that developing economies are reconsidering currency strategies in the face of U.S. dollar dominance. He mentioned discussions about diversifying away from the dollar to support Beijing’s influence in global trade. The implication, in his view, is that such shifts could reshape the architecture of international finance and trade in the coming years. (Fox News)
The discussion reflects a broader debate about how U.S. leadership is perceived abroad and how allies respond to perceived gaps between rhetoric and action on the international stage. Cotton’s remarks call for renewed focus on reinforcing American partnerships, maintaining credible deterrence, and presenting a consistent policy approach that aligns with the interests of a wide network of partners across the Americas and beyond. (Fox News)