OICC Press International Journal of Political Science 2228-6217 13 4 2024 04 29 New Security Architecture with the Transformation of U.S. Smart Power in the Post-COVID Era 185 201 EN Ali Bijani Nasab Department of International Relations, Kish International Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kish, Iran reza simbar fullprofessor Journal Article 2024 04 29 The outbreak of the coronavirus has posed a significant threat to global security and governance. The rapid global spread of this virus has not only created an atmosphere of fear and concern for the general public but has also confronted a majority of governments, including developed and post-industrial Western countries, with serious economic and social challenges as well as a new security landscape. In the realm of international security, the pandemic has presented the United States with a set of new challenges. This crisis has provided its competitors, especially China, an opportunity to challenge its global dominance. Therefore, the primary objective of this article is to examine and analyze the role of the United States in shaping the post-COVID security archi-tecture on a global scale. This article further argues that the U.S. approach to smart power re-quires fundamental transformation, as it is a crucial prerequisite for maintaining its global domi-nance. This argument is based on the premise that smart power has not only been an important tool in U.S. foreign policy since the post-Cold War era but has also enabled Washington to sus-tain its leadership after the September 11 attacks. While the COVID crisis will have long-term implications for the global security architecture, this article emphasizes that the pandemic has not fundamentally altered the global order. Ultimately, the findings of this research acknowledge that changes in U.S. strategies to adapt to new security challenges and to maintain its position in the international system are essential.