No One Has a Plan for American Decline

This Foreign Policy flagship article signals elite U.S. debate on managing or accepting decline, with zero consensus on consequences for allies. For Australia, a core assumption of post-WWII strategy—sustained U.S. Indo-Pacific primacy and AUKUS backing—faces rhetorical legitimacy erosion in Washington, directly threatening Pillar 7 (Alliance) and forcing accelerated decoupling (Pillar 5) and maritime capability build (Pillar 6) earlier than planned.