Up until recently, it was a given. In the case of Japan, there is some kind of feudal behavior of 'loyalty' that comes from the Zaibatsu culture. Which in itself descended from postwar Yakuza.

> We can't even stop Saudi Arabia from raising gas prices whenever they want to annoy us.

You used to. Until Russia & China built up enough defense industry and also started helping any country against US coups and color revolutions by providing intelligence.