However, the US controls the global financial system with its financial muscle. The World Bank and IMF both unanimously abide by its decree. The US was enraged when China sought to establish the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), even though they were unable to stop it. Aside from that, the US's declared position on all foreign policy issues is to defend its allies, which leaves a sizable portion of the world outside of its purported allies sphere of influence. These alone are characteristics of what we would normally refer to as Empire!