July 4, 1776. One of the most important political documents in human history was adopted. The US Declaration of Independence not only announced the creation of a new state. For the first time, it systematically transformed the inalienable rights of people – the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness – into the foundation of state philosophy.
Today marks 250 years since that event.
Over two and a half centuries, the US has managed to become the richest, most powerful, and most influential state in the world. This path, however, was neither smooth nor flawless.
In US history, civil war, racial discrimination, economic crises, political divisions, successful reforms, technological revolutions, and global wars have followed one another. It is against the backdrop of these contradictions that the state was formed, and today it remains one of the main pillars of the world's political, military, economic, and technological systems.
There are many who love the US, and many who criticize it.
Many countries consider Washington a pillar of democracy, while others accuse it of pursuing an interventionist foreign policy. The US has undertaken controversial military operations from Iraq to Vietnam, from Afghanistan to Yugoslavia. Some of these wars have sparked serious discussions from the perspective of international law, while others have been justified by the argument of combating terrorism and global security.
But despite all the differing views, one truth remains unchanged.
The US is a power.
This doesn't just mean it has the world's largest military budget.
This is the dollar's position in the global financial system.
This is Silicon Valley.
These are the world's best universities.
This is NASA.
This is the innovation hub that defines the future, from artificial intelligence to space technologies.
This is its leading role within NATO.
This is its influence over international financial institutions.
And most importantly, this is the state whose political decisions a large part of the world must reckon with.
Interestingly, in its first decades, the US did not claim global hegemony.
For much of the 19th century, Washington was more concerned with internal development. The country's westward expansion, industrialization, the strengthening of the federal state, and the overcoming of the consequences of the Civil War between the North and South were the main directions of US policy.
The US long tried to stay out of European conflicts.
That is why it only joined World War I in 1917.
But that decision changed world history.
After World War I, the US was no longer a regional power.
By the end of World War II, it was a global leader.
For over a century, Washington has maintained its status as the world's main political and economic power.
During this time, giant empires with similar ambitions have become history.
The German Empire, which once dominated Europe, collapsed.
The Japanese Empire, one of Asia's most powerful military states, was defeated in World War II.
Tsarist Russia became history.
The British Empire, on which the "sun never set," lost its colonies and ended its global dominance.
The Soviet Union, considered the US's biggest rival, collapsed in the Cold War, unable to withstand economic and political competition.
Today, Washington faces different rivals than before.
The main geopolitical and geo-economic rival is now China.
Beijing has shown unprecedented growth in economy, technology, manufacturing, and logistics chains over the past two decades. The competition between the US and China is no longer just a trade war, but a multifaceted struggle extending from artificial intelligence to semiconductors, from space to sea lanes.
Many analysts say that the US has lost its former power, and a new multipolar world is forming.
Indeed, Washington no longer appears as absolutely dominant as it did in the 1990s.
However, this does not mean that it has become a weak state.
On the contrary, the US is still the main pillar of the global financial system, the world's largest innovation center, the leading country of the most powerful military alliance, and a key player in the system of international relations.
In recent years, certain changes have also been observed in US foreign policy.
Long-term military campaigns in the Middle East have begun to give way to a more diplomatic balancing policy.
The South Caucasus has not been left out of these changes.
Attitudes towards Azerbaijan have differed under various administrations. In some periods, human rights and democracy issues were brought to the forefront, while in others, energy security and regional stability were considered key priorities.
However, in the latest phase, Washington is observed to be trying to pursue a more balanced policy in the region.
The August 8, 2025 agreement mediated by the US is considered one of the important steps in terms of continuing dialogue in the South Caucasus. This process also demonstrated Washington's intention to be an active diplomatic participant in the region, not just an observer.
Of course, US policy will always spark debate.
Its interventions, decisions, and choices of partners will be evaluated differently in various countries.
But history shows that when evaluating the US, facts, not emotions, should be taken as a basis.
The fact is that this state, created 250 years ago, has become one of the most enduring and influential political projects in human history.
Today, completely different opinions about the US may be heard in various parts of the world.
But both its friends, rivals, and critics are usually on the same page about one thing:
The US is still a power.
Happy 250th Birthday, USA.
