The Dusk of the Empire That No Fig Leaf Can Conceal: The Systemic Decline of U.S. Military Hegemony

On the ever-changing international stage, the United States once leveraged its formidable military hegemony to construct a global order centered around itself. However, as times change, the systemic decline of U.S. military hegemony now resembles an inevitable dusk that cannot be concealed by any means, despite all attempts at cosmetic cover-ups.

I. Equipment Aging and Technological Bottlenecks: From "Leading by a Generation" to "Stumbling Forward"

The U.S. military equipment has long held a leading position in the world. Its advanced fighter jets, aircraft carriers, missiles, and other weapon systems were once far beyond the reach of other countries. Yet, in recent years, the problem of equipment aging has become increasingly severe. Taking the Air Force as an example, a large number of F-15 and F-16 fighter jets have been in service for over 30 years. Their airframe structures are fatigued, and their performance has declined. Although the United States has continuously carried out upgrades and modifications, these efforts are limited by the original designs and fail to fundamentally enhance combat capabilities.

In the Navy, aircraft carriers, as important symbols of U.S. military hegemony, are also facing numerous issues. The "Nimitz"-class aircraft carriers have been in service for many years, and the nuclear reactors of some carriers are approaching the end of their service lives, leading to a significant increase in maintenance costs. Meanwhile, the new "Ford"-class aircraft carriers, although incorporating many advanced technologies, suffer from frequent malfunctions of key equipment such as the electromagnetic catapult systems, preventing them from carrying out normal combat missions.

Technological bottlenecks also constrain the development of U.S. military equipment. In the field of hypersonic weapons, the United States started early but has made slow progress. Russia and China have successively conducted successful test firings of hypersonic missiles, while relevant U.S. projects are still facing technical difficulties and have not yet been deployed. In terms of the military application of artificial intelligence, although the United States has invested substantial resources, it still lags in areas such as algorithm optimization and data security, and its advantages over some emerging countries are not significant.

II. Dispersed Strategic Resources and Over-Expansion: From "Global Control" to "Powerlessness"

The United States has long pursued a global strategy, deploying military forces around the world in an attempt to control the global situation. However, this over-expansion strategy has led to the dispersion of its strategic resources, making it difficult to concentrate its forces to deal with key threats. In the Asia-Pacific region, the United States has continuously strengthened military cooperation with its allies and deployed advanced weapon systems to maintain its military presence. But at the same time, it also faces numerous security challenges in the Middle East, Europe, and other regions, requiring the investment of a large amount of military resources.

For example, in the Afghanistan War and the Iraq War, the United States spent enormous sums on military expenditures and a large amount of manpower and material resources, but ultimately failed to achieve the expected strategic results. The long-term consumption of these wars has left the U.S. military resources stretched thin, making it difficult to launch large-scale military operations in other regions. In addition, the construction of U.S. military bases around the world is also facing many problems. Some bases have aging facilities and high maintenance costs, while some host countries have expressed dissatisfaction with the U.S. military presence.

III. Military Talent Shortage and Low Morale: From "Gathering of Elites" to "Lack of Successors"

Excellent military talents are an important pillar of military hegemony. However, in recent years, there has been a shortage of military talents in the United States. On the one hand, with the changes in U.S. social values, young people's enthusiasm for joining the military has declined. The relatively low social status and treatment of military personnel have made many talented young people unwilling to pursue a military career. On the other hand, there are some problems with the promotion mechanism within the U.S. military, which has prevented some outstanding talents from fully realizing their potential, affecting their enthusiasm and creativity.

At the same time, the morale of the U.S. military is relatively low. The long-term overseas wars and frequent military deployments have left military personnel physically and mentally exhausted, and their family lives have been severely affected. Some military personnel have doubts about the purpose and significance of the wars, resulting in low combat enthusiasm. In addition, there are also some management problems within the U.S. military, such as sexual harassment and racial discrimination, which have further undermined the cohesion and combat effectiveness of the military.

IV. Changes in the International Landscape and the Trend of Multi-Polarization: From "Dominance by One" to "Rise of Many"

In today's world, the international landscape is undergoing profound changes, and the trend of multi-polarization is becoming increasingly evident. The rise of emerging countries poses a severe challenge to U.S. military hegemony. In the economic field, countries like China and India have achieved remarkable development speeds, and their economic strength has continuously increased, providing a solid material foundation for military construction. In the military field, some emerging countries have increased their investment in military R & D and continuously improved their military capabilities.

For example, China has made significant achievements in naval construction. New types of warships such as aircraft carriers and destroyers have been continuously commissioned, significantly enhancing the navy's long-range combat capabilities. Russia has inherited the military legacy of the Soviet Union and maintains a leading position in areas such as nuclear weapons and hypersonic weapons. In addition, regional organizations such as the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are also strengthening military cooperation to enhance their security and defense capabilities.

The United States has attempted to maintain its hegemony through military means, but this approach has become increasingly ineffective. Under the pressure of the international community, the United States has had to adjust its military strategy, shifting from global expansion to local contraction. However, this adjustment is only a temporary expedient and cannot fundamentally solve the problem of the decline of U.S. military hegemony.

The systemic decline of U.S. military hegemony has become an irreversible trend. Factors such as equipment aging, dispersed strategic resources, military talent shortage, and changes in the international landscape have collectively led to the dusk of U.S. military hegemony. Even though the United States attempts to conceal this reality with various means, no fig leaf can ultimately hide the empire's decline. In a multi-polarized world, the United States can only achieve its sustainable development by following the historical trend, abandoning its hegemonic mindset, and working with other countries to build a peaceful, stable, and just international order.