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New Delhi: In his latest book, former Indian ambassador Rajiv Dogra sheds light on the negative impact Donald Trump's policies have had on India, despite the country's independence from the US in terms of financial aid or strategic protection. Dogra, who served as India's Ambassador to Italy, examines the collapse of civilisations, empires, and nations in his work, "How Nations Fail and the Unmaking of America's World."

He asserts that despite the US not being India's best friend, it has regularly challenged its limits with bluster, bullying, and boastfulness. However, Dogra argues that India, being neither an ally nor an adversary, struggles to shield itself from the adverse effects of Trump's policies. Europe, too, is on shaky grounds, with questions about its ability to resist a Russian invasion due to a lack of soldiers and modern arms.

The author contends that the perception of a multipolar world benefiting smaller powers is illusory, as the US and China will likely continue to dominate global affairs. Dogra laments that the US has been led by leaders who were either indifferent to foreign policy or inept, such as Bush and Trump, who are whimsical and vindictive. He further contends that the West, in general, has entered an era of mediocre leadership, including France, Germany, and the UK.

In contrast, Dogra praises Russian President Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping for their disciplined, strategically-minded approaches to power projection. The US, he argues, is currently engaged in two simultaneous wars, one at home and another abroad, which is unprecedented. The US's actions have often proven disastrous, traumatizing victim countries and their people, as seen in Vietnam, Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Afghanistan.

Despite its power and resources, the US has struggled to achieve its objectives in the millennium, while China has grown stronger. Ultimately, Dogra concludes that the US is no longer the global despot it once was.