Is the world order shifting in relation to the US and its supporters

[Farnan]

While Western Europe has traditionally been the closest ally to the US, and is still an important ally, is the US's new closest friends shifting now?

I'm looking at Eastern/Central Europe and the Caucus which are trying to win US support, Eastern/Central Europe especially with Bulgaria, Romania, Poland and the Baltic States looking for close relations with the US. Georgia is an obvious nation looking to gain US support, but Azerbaijan and Armenia are both looking to win over the US with both sending contingents to Afghanistan.

In Africa, Nigeria ranks as one of the most pro-US nations in the world with 79% of Nigerians liking the US (which is not just after the election of Obama, its been that way for a long time). That is however surpassed by Kenya with 90% of Kenyans supporting the US. Support is also high in Ethiopia, Ghana, the Ivory Coast, Mali, Senegal, South Africa, and Uganda. Should the US take advantage of this pro-US attitude to Africa to improve relations there, better the continent, and develop new multi-lateral alliances?

And the US relation with Australia has developed into one of the closest in US history, only comparable to US-Canadian and US-UK relations.

US-ROK relations are by definition very good, but the opinion of the US in the Philippines (at least in 2002) is amazing. We have recently become popular in Indonesia even, and important nation in the South-East Pacific. Surprisingly pro-US sentiment, at least in 2002, in Vietnam is high.

In Latin-America pro-US sentiment is on the rise in Brazil, was high in 2002 in Guatemala, and is high in Peru.

In Lebanon, another surprise, pro-US sentiment is on the rise.

And according to this poll, out of the top 5 pro-US nations measure in 2009, only one is in Western Europe and its, ironically, France.

http://pewglobal.org/database/?indicator=1

(note Kenyans like the US more than the US likes the US).

Should the US take advantage of this opinion and shift in world order and while remaining close to Western Europe, also move fully to embrace partners outside that region?

[Aru]

Maybe.

[antares24]

about eastern Europe actually from what i know the relations with the new administration are much colder (just look at the strategic missile defense shield issue), and many eastern European countries think that Obama is not giving enough time to the region, looking to Asia instead.
The best time of US-est Europe relations were the Bush administration time, that invested a lot of efforts and money in the region.

As for Asia is normal that Usa attention is concentrating there, as it try to counterbalance China expanding influence in the area. We'll see if the Usa efforts on this issue will bring some fruits.

As for western Europe and the US, the relation is still strong but without the common threat of the Urss is normal that relations are not as close as they were pre 1989. Usa and the Eu will remain as allies with friendly relations, but not as close as the past.

[Farnan]

Oh yea, I forgot India, which is definitely shifting into the US sphere.

[Farnan]

Well the US, Romania and Bulgarian just ended a joint training exercise, so relations must still be good.

http://www.eucom.mil/english/FullStory.asp?art={B19348B4-7CAB-495D-B873-9D79C58CB8F7}

[antares24]

Well the US, Romania and Bulgarian just ended a joint training exercise, so relations must still be good.

http://www.eucom.mil/english/FullStory.asp?art={B19348B4-7CAB-495D-B873-9D79C58CB8F7}

of course they're still good, but not as good as the ones of the Bush era, and many government as i said are disappointed with the new administration lack of involvement in the region and too friendly relation with Russia.

As for Africa, do you know that the US Africom had to keep it's site in Germany because no african state want to allow a new US bases on its soil? That doesn't sound like an idyllic relation...

http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/wealt...he-troops.aspx

[Farnan]

of course they're still good, but not as good as the ones of the Bush era, and many government as i said are disappointed with the new administration lack of involvement in the region and too friendly relation with Russia.

As for Africa, do you know that the US Africom had to keep it's site in Germany because no african state want to allow a new US bases on its soil? That doesn't sound like an idyllic relation...

http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/wealt...he-troops.aspx

Actually Liberia does and has offered.

And there are US bases on African soil. Its just for some reason many African nations don't want large Western bases on their soil. I wonder why

[Stavroforos]

The US has been pursuing active friendships with nations outside of Western Europe actively since the end of the Cold War.

[Erik]

The US has been pursuing active friendships with nations outside of Western Europe actively since the end of the Cold War.

Exactly.

It was only during the cold war that the US was somewhat limited to Western Europe and a few pro-Western countries.
Now that it's over, it makes sense that the US wants to be friends with almost everybody.

Same applies to most countries, btw.

This is also why I find the EU's isolationist anti-India/anti-China attitude a bit strange.
I think this will end up biting us, as the US will become closer to China and India and can therefore form a much stronger bloc.

[Thorn777]

Exactly.
This is also why I find the EU's isolationist anti-India/anti-China attitude a bit strange.
I think this will end up biting us, as the US will become closer to China and India and can therefore form a much stronger bloc.

How is that the case?

European nations have more "friendship" with them as of now than the US, and no one that matters tells we should "isolate our selves etc". Every second car in China is practically a VW and so on. In allot of cases European business got better deals than the Americans, nvm Russia.