Like it or not, stacked on top of the other expressions of American weakness I have described, the Afghanistan debacle led to the perception that the United States is weak and unwilling to stand behind its commitments.
After the Afghanistan embarrassment, our allies and partners worried that we were no longer reliable. And, those countries that have long sought America’s downfall no longer feared us.
Our enemies were emboldened.
According to Russian opposition journalist Mikhail Zygar in his recent book, the fall of Kabul was a turning point in Putin’s mind.
Putin became convinced then that he could conquer Kyiv, President Zelenskyy would flee the country and the United States would do nothing to stop that takeover of Ukraine.
Today, we face the consequences of an emboldened Russia and an emboldened Iran.
https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/remarks/grassley-warns-of-weakness-in-us-foreign-policy