Max Boot on a Post-American World and the Democracies Rising to Meet It
JUDJ-Prepared Summary from February 25, 2026 | What is the Endgame? U.S. Policy and the Future of Venezuela and Beyond. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the speaker.
In a recent America at a Crossroads discussion, historian, national security scholar, and Washington Post columnist Max Boot joined Larry Diamond to explore how the world is changing as the United States becomes a less steady global leader. Drawing on his expertise in foreign policy, military affairs, and democratic governance, Boot framed the conversation around a central question: what happens when America no longer anchors the international order with consistency, credibility, and moral force?
The End of Reliable American Leadership
Boot argued that one of the defining features of this moment is not just disagreement over policy, but the collapse of predictability in U.S. leadership. Under Trump, he said, the traditional pillars of American foreign policy such as NATO, alliances, free trade, and democratic solidarity have all weakened. That has left allies uncertain and forced them to rethink longstanding assumptions about their dependence on Washington.
Ukraine and Europe’s New Role
Ukraine offered one of the clearest examples of that shift. Boot observed that while U.S. aid has fallen sharply, European countries have increased their support. He praised Ukraine’s ability to improvise, adapt, and keep fighting under immense pressure, but he also emphasized the broader geopolitical lesson: Europe is being forced to step forward because it can no longer fully rely on the United States. What once may have been seen as burden-sharing now looks more like strategic necessity.
Middle Powers Begin to Fill the Vacuum
The discussion then widened to include countries like Canada and other democratic allies. Boot highlighted the significance of remarks by Mark Carney, who warned of a new era in which power is less constrained by law and norms. Boot suggested that democratic middle powers may increasingly work together to uphold rule of law, human rights, and territorial integrity as U.S. leadership recedes. Though these countries are not a single bloc, they collectively possess immense economic and military weight.
The Costs of Overreach
At the same time, Boot warned that American power is being stretched thin. He pointed to military deployments in the Middle East, tensions with Iran, and pressure points elsewhere as signs of overextension. He raised particular concern about limited U.S. stockpiles of high-tech munitions and the danger that a conflict in one theater could leave allies in places like Taiwan, the Baltics, or South Korea more vulnerable. In this sense, the issue is not just political credibility but strategic capacity.
A New Order Taking Shape
By the end of the conversation, a larger theme had emerged: the world may be entering a post-American phase, not because the United States has become weak, but because it has become less dependable. Even so, Boot offered a measure of hope. He pointed to democratic resilience abroad, institutional pushback at home, and the possibility of electoral correction in the United States. His message was that the international order is changing quickly, but democracy still has defenders ready to adapt and respond.
About America at a Crossroads
Since April 2020, America at a Crossroads has produced weekly virtual programs on topics related to the preservation of our democracy, voting rights, freedom of the press, and a wide array of civil rights, including abortion rights, free speech, and free press. America at a Crossroads is a project of Jews United for Democracy & Justice.
