War in Iran exposes US's shift from a global guardian to an arbiter of chaos

5 hours ago

Governments in India, Nepal, and the Philippines took measures to mitigate the impact of the Iran war on their populations, including redirecting gas supplies and reducing workweeks.
Asian economies, heavily reliant on Gulf energy imports, were severely affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with oil traffic dropping by 90%.
Europe, less dependent on Middle Eastern fuel, faced surging natural gas prices, leading to an 11% drop in European stocks.
The US economy showed resilience due to its domestic natural gas abundance, with only a 5% drop in the S&P 500 index.
Trump's tariffs and aggressive policies have harmed global trade, with the IMF noting weakened growth prospects for many countries except the US.
The WTO predicts slower global trade growth due to high energy prices, with Europe facing a significant export decline.
Disruptions in Gulf trade threaten food and agriculture in countries like Brazil and India, which rely on urea imports from the region.
Remittances to countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan are expected to drop as the Gulf economy suffers.
The war has revived coal interest in Asia, countering climate goals.
US allies recognize Trump's America as a source of global instability, with unpredictable justifications for aggression.
The MAGA base's anti-global sentiment suggests prolonged US belligerence, adding to global risks alongside China and Russia's ambitions.

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