title: The US
abstract: What most commentators did agree on was that the Pax Americana of the post-1945 international era, when the US used its power to shape and direct global events, was weakening. Though America remained the strongest power in the world, it was now uncertain if it would remain in that position. China continued to rise as a major economic challenger to the US, with defence spending to match; Russia re-emerged as a regional power, with America unable to stop Putin annexing Crimea and increasing Russia