The CRINK alliance—comprising China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea—has emerged as a formidable coalition challenging the Western-led global order, particularly since the early 2020s. This loose but increasingly coordinated group, often dubbed the “Axis of Upheaval,” unites around a shared goal of diminishing U.S. hegemony and promoting a multipolar world that aligns with their authoritarian interests. Their collaboration spans military support, economic partnerships, and diplomatic efforts, with notable examples including Russia’s reliance on Iran and North Korea for military aid in its Ukraine conflict, and China’s expanding influence through initiatives like the Belt and Road, which now includes 22 Western Hemisphere countries as of late 2023. The CRINK nations reject Western values, viewing U.S. presence as a threat to their sovereignty, and actively work to undermine Western dominance by fostering alternative alliances and supporting illiberal policies, creating a ripple effect of instability across regions like the Indo-Pacific, Middle East, and even Latin America.
 

This growing threat demands a robust counterbalancing power in the Western Hemisphere, with the United States as the anchor, to safeguard regional stability and democratic values. The CRINK’s influence is already seeping into the Americas, as seen with China’s economic dominance in countries like Brazil and Chile, where it has surpassed the U.S. as the largest trading partner, and its strategic investments in infrastructure and telecommunications. If unchecked, this could lead to a scenario where China establishes military installations in the region—echoing fears reminiscent of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis—further eroding U.S. influence and security. A unified Western Hemisphere alliance, built on the historical foundation of initiatives like the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Alliance for Progress, would leverage the U.S.’s economic and military might to strengthen regional cooperation, counter CRINK’s advances, and prevent the kind of geopolitical vacuum that Kennedy warned about in the 1960s, which today could be filled by authoritarian powers.
 

The urgency for such a counterbalance is heightened by the CRINK’s potential to exploit the Western Hemisphere’s vulnerabilities, such as economic disparities and political instability, exacerbated by events like the Covid-19 pandemic. The region has faced severe economic contractions, with countries like Brazil and Mexico hit hard, creating fertile ground for CRINK nations to offer alternative partnerships that undermine democratic governance. A U.S.-led alliance could revive and modernize frameworks like the Alliance for Progress, focusing on economic integration, democratic resilience, and recovery efforts—such as supporting vaccine rollouts and small businesses—to rebuild trust and solidarity. By anchoring this alliance, the U.S. can not only protect its strategic interests but also foster a united front that upholds shared values, ensuring the Western Hemisphere remains a bulwark against the CRINK’s destabilizing ambitions and the broader erosion of the global liberal order.