The US is not retreating from global leadership - it's refocusing on Asia

America's hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan has prompted a drop in President Joe Biden 's approval rating and energised the debate over the decline in US global leadership. Russia and China are among the main proponents of the argument that the swift US pull-out should be seen as a bellwether by America's allies such as Ukraine and Taiwan - a sign that they may similarly be abandoned. Viewed internationally as a mess, the clumsy US departure might, however, be politically considered more of a refocusing than a retreat. Indeed, Washington is simultaneously refocusing on domestic and regional issues. The former has…