Multipolar Shift: New Defense Pacts & US Retreat

Pakistan-Saudi-Turkey defense pact (Article 5) framed as anti-Israel 'Muslim NATO,' signaling allies hedging against US unpredictability. Australia-Vietnam defence ties deepen. China-Canada relations thaw after Carney's visit, with diplomatic engagement on trade, energy, AI, and transnational crime. US tariffs on Brazil and political meddling strain Mercosur, potentially opening space for China to fill the gap. China asserts itself as alternative power. US retreat from global leadership accelerates, aided by fiscal constraints and aid cuts.