With even the policy wonks of the U.S. empire admitting that their collective reputation and influence on “the rest of the world” are in tatters, it’s time for a new world order geography quiz. Multipolarity, here we come!

Can you name the outlined countries on these maps? Answers are at the end with embedded links to recent news of their moves toward independence from U.S. control (or, in one case, flouting public opinion to make a “defense” agreement with the empire).

Map A – recently withdrew from US-led ‘Combined Maritime Forces’ in the Persian Gulf

Map B – U.S. officials claim it is about to be brought under the hegemon’s “nuclear umbrella”

Map C – NATO is on the ground stoking sectarian violence here and appears to be preparing to bomb this nation — again

Map D – university students nationwide staged protests demanding their prime minister not sign a “Defense Cooperation Agreement” with the U.S. before public review occurred (he signed it anyway)

Map E – African National Congress General Secretary Fikile Mbalula hails from this nation; he recently scolded a BBC reporter about British war crimes when criticized for not sanctioning Russia as demanded by the U.S.

Map F – nation with a long coastline on the eponymous Persian Gulf, it recently achieved rapprochement with rival Saudi Arabia in an agreement brokered by China

Map G – this nation’s president sent a letter to President Biden this month complaining that, “the U.S. government, specifically through USAID, has for some time been financing organisations openly against the legal and legitimate government I represent”

Map H – a war-torn nation that recently rejoined the Arab League after a long absence

Map I – agreed with visiting Iranian President to no longer use the U.S. dollar for trade between the two nations

(And in case you missed my first two geography quizzes, you can find them here and here.)

Answers:

Map A – United Arab Emirates

Map B – Taiwan (not a nation, rather a province of China)

Map C – Serbia

Map D – Papua New Guinea

Map E – South Africa

Map F – Iran

Map G –  Mexico

Map H – Syria

Map I – Indonesia