The US has shown very quickly that it is not a spent power. Compare what they have done recently in Venezuela and Iran to Russia's botching of taking Kiev and the mess ever since.

But to quote Fiona Hill in regards to China, Russia and iran.

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The Chinese have told the Europeans many times when they've been asked, 'Why are you continuing to support Russia? And why do you want Russia to win?' that, 'Well, if we wanted Russia to win, they would have won.'

Also, if they wanted Russia to lose, Russia would probably have lost.

China is, again, just gauging their support and playing all of this out, gaming it out, really, as to how it affects the United States one way or another.

The same is true of North Korea and Iran, she says: support for Russia has been built on antipathy towards the United States and their own beef with the United States.