Countries Managing Without American Involvement: These Nations Have Already Done So Without U.S. Connections
In a world where the global order has historically been shaped by the United States, four countries - Iran, Cuba, North Korea, and Venezuela - have sought to assert their political and economic independence, each exhibiting varying degrees of resistance to U.S. influence. However, these countries' economic independence remains limited by global financial structures, sanctions, and trade dependencies.
Iran, once a pro-U.S. ally, has long sought to assert its political and economic independence since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Despite extensive U.S. sanctions targeting its economy, particularly its energy sector, Iran maintains an independent government structure and pursues regional influence asymmetric to U.S. interests. Yet, its economy remains vulnerable to sanctions and global financial systems dominated by Western powers.
Cuba, under a near-continuous U.S. economic embargo since the 1960s, has maintained an independent communist government and a self-declared path of socialism separate from U.S. capitalism. Despite this political sovereignty, Cuba’s economy has relied on support from other countries, such as the Soviet Union historically, and more recently Venezuela, highlighting limits to pure economic independence.
North Korea, often described as the most politically and economically isolated state from U.S. influence, maintains a totalitarian regime with virtually no economic ties to the U.S. Its independence is marked by extreme political isolation and a centralized command economy, but it faces significant challenges from international sanctions, dependency on China for trade, and limited economic development.
Venezuela, under leaders like Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro, pursued a policy of resistance to U.S. influence, emphasizing nationalization of key industries and alignment with anti-U.S. geopolitical actors. However, Venezuela’s economy has been deeply affected by U.S. sanctions, economic mismanagement, and internal political crises, weakening its sovereign control.
In 2024, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened tariffs against several countries, including India, accusing it of buying crude oil from Russia and selling it globally at a profit, and criticizing India's lack of concern for the war in Ukraine. India issued a strong rebuttal, stating that it would act in its national interest and explained that it turned to Russian oil due to limitations in the global market caused by the Ukraine conflict.
Meanwhile, some nations have chosen to distance themselves from the United States or have never been part of its sphere of influence. Iran, for instance, has managed to strengthen its economy, focusing on domestic industries, oil and gas sector development, and strengthening ties with countries like Russia, China, and Turkey. Cuba has built a healthcare system that earned global praise despite stringent U.S. sanctions. North Korea has received limited support from Russia, and Venezuela has strengthened its ties with Iran, China, and Russia in response to American sanctions.
The debate raises questions about whether a nation can survive without engaging with the United States and whether there are countries that have built an economic and political existence independent of American support. While these countries exhibit political independence in their governance and frequent opposition to U.S. policies, their economic independence is limited by global financial structures, sanctions, and trade dependencies. They often exemplify the complexities of sovereignty in a globalized world where political autonomy does not equate to complete economic independence or insulation from U.S. influence.
- In the oil-and-gas sector, Iran, despite extensive U.S. sanctions, continues to pursue domestic development and strengthen ties with nations like Russia and China.
- Cuba's healthcare system, faced with stringent U.S. sanctions, has earned global acclaim, demonstrating resilience in the face of economic challenges.
- North Korea's economic independence is marked by extreme political isolation, dependency on China for trade, and international sanctions, yet it receives limited support from Russia.
- Venezuela, under leaders like Chávez and Maduro, has strengthened its ties with Iran, China, and Russia in response to American sanctions, nationalizing key industries in the process.
- The trades between India and Russia in crude oil, amidst the war in Ukraine, underscores the complexities of global politics and finance, as nations navigate trade dependencies and policy-and-legislation to protect their national interests.
