One need only look at the map of military bases. Its a really modern way to rule and avoids the issues of old imperialism while reaping the benefits. You have people thinking they are self governing themselves, but they are actually on a pretty tight leash, and should a regime change occur guess what side the US and all her allies will back with money and arms: the side that favors letting the US keep their military bases and preferential trading relationship. Its basically imperialism through the transitive property. A country like the Phillipines is still basically a US colony, Japan is still basically occupied by the US, the northern border of south Korea is still defended by the US military. There's only been a few times the US was ever rooted out from a country, like during the fall of Saigon, or recently when the US abandoned Bagram airbase.