Bill,

If it is any help the UK "pivoted" away from 'East of Suez' in the late 1960's, driven largely by financial pressures and a desire to avoid commitments so faraway. Some residual presence was kept, often in strategic spots and lo & behold the UK has of late "pivoted" back to at least the Persian Gulf / Arabia, with mainly air and naval elements.

It took a long time for the UK, or the British Empire after 1945. to learn it was no longer a superpower, but a medium-sized power.

Power we are often told is no longer measured in divisions or warships, but in "softer" terms.

I don't think the world accepted the USA was the global leader; the USA may have thought it was the global leader.