Who’s actually steering the ship? If you think it’s just the person sitting in the Oval Office, you’re missing the gears and grease that keep the American empire grinding forward. Right now, as we watch 2026 unfold with a messy conflict between the US and Iran and a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, the question of who dictates our global stance is more than just academic. It's a matter of survival.
In a recent Al Jazeera Reframe discussion, Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla of Progressive International and investigative journalist Jeremy Scahill tore apart the illusion of democratic control over foreign affairs. They aren't talking about the usual "deep state" conspiracies you hear on talk radio. They’re talking about a multi-trillion-dollar engine fueled by private interests, unelected bureaucrats, and a military-industrial complex that doesn't care who you voted for.
The Trillion Dollar Shadow Over Washington
American foreign policy isn't a series of independent choices. It’s a business model. Jeremy Scahill, who’s spent decades reporting from war zones, points out that the "Big Five" defense contractors—Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon, General Dynamics, and Northrop Grumman—basically own the blueprint for US global engagement.
When more than 40% of all arms sold globally come from US companies, peace isn't just a diplomatic challenge. It's a revenue killer. We’ve seen this play out in real-time. Whether it was the wars in Gaza and Ukraine or the current 2026 tensions in the Middle East, the windfall for these corporations is guaranteed. They don't just lobby; they integrate. They fund the think tanks that write the white papers that the State Department then uses to justify "intervention." It’s a closed loop.
The 2026 US military budget is pushing past the trillion-dollar mark. Think about that. That isn't just "defense." That’s an investment in maintaining a specific global order where the US remains the primary enforcer. Scahill argues that the presidency has become a temporary management position for a permanent war machine.
Why the Global South is Done Waiting
Varsha Gandikota-Nellutla brings a perspective that Washington rarely wants to hear. As the general coordinator for Progressive International, she represents the "Global South"—the nations that are tired of being the playground for Western interests.
She's been a driving force behind the Hague Group, a coalition formed in 2025 to challenge what she calls the "end of impunity." For decades, the US has used international law as a cudgel against its enemies while ignoring it when it becomes inconvenient for its allies. Gandikota-Nellutla argues that the world is seeing through the hypocrisy of the "rules-based order."
The 2026 crisis in Cuba and the ongoing friction with Iran show a growing movement toward non-alignment. Countries aren't just picking sides between Washington and Beijing anymore. They’re looking for a way out of the binary altogether. Gandikota-Nellutla’s work focuses on "decolonizing" international affairs—basically, stripping away the old colonial structures that still dictate trade, finance, and natural resource management.
The Myth of the Great Man Theory
We love to blame or credit the President. We say "Trump’s policy" or "Biden’s doctrine." It’s a comforting lie because it suggests we can change everything with one ballot every four years.
But look at the Islamabad talks in April 2026. Despite high-level delegations and a desperate need for a ceasefire, the negotiations stalled. Why? Because the "sticky points" aren't just about borders or nukes. They’re about the control of the Strait of Hormuz and the mine-clearing operations that keep oil flowing and prices stable for the Western world.
The people "running" the policy are often middle-tier bureaucrats and career military officers who stay in place while presidents come and go. They’re the ones who decide which intelligence reaches the top and how "options" are presented to the Commander-in-Chief. If you’re only given three options and all of them involve some form of military escalation, did you really "choose" the policy?
Breaking the Defeatism Cycle
Gandikota-Nellutla warns against the "defeatism" that has plagued the left and anti-war movements. It’s easy to feel like the machine is too big to break. But history shows these systems aren't permanent.
The creation of the Hague Group and the renewed push for a New International Economic Order (NIEO) are attempts to reinvent the internationalism of the 1960s and 70s. This isn't just about protesting; it’s about building alternative institutions. They’re pushing for:
- Enforcing ICC warrants regardless of the target’s nationality.
- Halting arms transfers to states committing documented war crimes.
- Blocking military-related shipments through coordinated state-level action.
What You Can Actually Do
Don't just watch the news and feel powerless. If you want to see a shift in how the US interacts with the world, you have to look past the political theater.
Stop following the "horse race" of who’s winning the next election and start looking at the money. Follow the contractors. Support movements that demand transparency in think-tank funding. The "revolving door" between the Pentagon and defense boardrooms is where the real policy is made.
If we don't demand a dismantling of the permanent war economy, we're just arguing about which driver gets to steer a truck that’s already heading off a cliff. The current 2026 conflict is a wake-up call. Diplomacy isn't an event; it's a process. And right now, the process is being sabotaged by the very people who profit from its failure.
Demand that your representatives support the de-escalation of the Hormuz blockade. Focus on the Hague Group’s efforts to uphold international law for everyone, not just the "enemies" of the state. It’s time to stop asking who’s running the policy and start asking how we take the keys back.
