An ex-head of NATO, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, has said America needs to be the world's policeman to keep the world safe. Mr Rasmussen said, "we need determined American global leadership" to bring back law and order. He stated that the USA had no choice and had to act more forcefully. He explained that: "Syria is torn by war and conflict, Iraq is on the brink of collapse, Libya is a failed state, … Russia is attacking Ukraine and destabilising Eastern Europe, China is flexing its muscles, [and] the rogue state North Korea is threatening nuclear attacks."

Mr Rasmussen was critical of President Barack Obama, whom he says has not done enough to stop conflict. He said: "Superpowers don't get to retire. Look around; you will see a world on fire." The Russia Today (RT) newspaper said U.S. foreign policy has led to greater instability in the Middle East and North Africa. It said Libya is in chaos because the USA had no post-exit plan. RT added that actions in Iraq and Syria created a global security threat in the form of ISIS. It went on to write that the Taliban still control a third of Afghanistan, even after the US spent 15 years there.