W

hoever wins the US presidential election on Nov. 8, either Donald J. Trump or Hillary R. Clinton, will soon face the harsh reality that the global political and economic constellations have utterly changed and the US under a new leader will have to adjust itself to the changes and not the other way around, as had happened in the past.

The new president of the US will have no other choice but to prioritize finding remedies for the country’s acute problems, such as its ballooning trade deficit and public debts, before touching his or her global agenda. He or she must wake up Americans from their dream that the world will not survive without US leadership.

Unlike a few decades ago, the world is now much less dependent on the economic and military superpower, thanks to the rise of other powers, especially China. Therefore, although the world is still closely watching the US election, for many countries dealing with Trump or Clinton will not be very different.

A leadership change or any political or economic turbulence in China will definitely get much more attention from the international community because at this moment only a few countries can claim they have little interest in China’s economy.

Many countries will feel more comfortable if Clinton takes over from President Barack Obama in January next year because she has been at the center of American politics for decades, but if Trump wins the world knows that the business tycoon will be unable to dictate to the world as he wishes. He will be more annoying, of course, and may become a source of jokes if his behavior and leadership style remain unchanged.

The often ridiculous behavior and unbelievable statements of the US presidential candidates, in particular Trump, during the electoral campaign have humiliated the so-called champion of democracy itself in the face of the international community, as if the exchange of words was taking place in a developing country that had reluctantly embraced democracy.

For decades, the US has prided itself as being in the vanguard of democracy and without hesitation has preached others to follow, if not imitate, the democratic values characterizing the diverse nation. Now the pride has probably turned into an illusion because Trump has even claimed the election result could be rigged.

Traditionally, Indonesia prefers a Republican-led administration because they are more business-friendly and pay less attention to human rights issues, while Democrats are harder to please. Indonesia is not the US and prefers to be described as a strategic partner.

That does not mean the world no longer needs the US. Its power and influence will undeniably remain very strong and much needed to keep the balance of power intact.

Militarily, politically and economically, the US is still playing a crucial role in maintaining world peace and order. Like it or not, Obama has succeeded in accommodating the new situation for the benefit of his administration.

We do hope the US election will generate an internationally accepted leader. The voters’ choice should be respected, but they should also accept the consequences of their preference.