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Editor's Note: David Bittán Obadía is a Lawyer. Analyst of political and international issues. Columnist for the newspaper El Universal de Venezuela. He has participated in the World Jewish Congress. He is a member of the American Jewish Committee and of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain. The opinions expressed in this comment are the author's own. See more opinion at CNNe.com/opinion.
(CNN Spanish) - A recurring theme in these times is the question of whether the United States will continue to be "the empire" or the "first power in the world. This is not a new discussion, especially since in the Trump era, decisions have been made that move the country's position as the most important on Earth by leaps and bounds.
The United States is currently the largest economy in the world and has impressive military power. However, the measurement parameters to be “the power” must not only be limited to these aspects, it is also necessary to assess technological advances compared to the rest of the world, global influence, the satisfaction of its nationals, GDP and over everything, its leadership capacity.
What is perceived as the loss of leadership and international political power, bad decisions in the diplomatic field and the new way of governing on Twitter show signs of weakness in the United States.
There are a series of circumstances that expose the American system today: the attack on the WHO, the abandonment of the Paris agreement on climate change, the departure of the agreement signed by different countries to curb Iran's nuclear program, the threats to China and Mexico -for example- or the alleged but unsuccessful attempt to generate change in Venezuela through mere intentions. All this, together with the “first USA”, are taking their toll on the heart of the most prosperous country in the world.
The dollar is definitely the most important currency in the world and another factor to measure the strength of a country, but in this aspect it is necessary to highlight -as Peter S. Goodman comments-, the enormous public debt of the United States. and the bad record of the last financial crisis. But on the other hand, China has been unable to promote its currency despite incentives, and the euro has major limitations. All this works in favor of the dollar.
The world's first power should not have to ask for help, as was the case with the coronavirus. True empires are farsighted and have to have the ability to help.
Meanwhile, China, very quickly, plays very hard in all aspects and if there is no change of course in the United States, it will soon position itself as the first power, leaving aside Russia, which without much money, but with the strength of Putin's well-exercised political leadership, he remains in the fight.
Knowing what lies ahead, the question is whether Trump will be the Nero of the 21st century. History will tell.
Donald trump