The 737 MAX 8 produced for Southwest Airlines is pictured as Boeing celebrates the 10,000th 737 to come off the production line in Renton, Washington, U.S. March 13, 2018. REUTERS/Jason Redmond

NEW YORK (Reuters Breakingviews) - Boeing’s belatedly grounded jets are an apt symbol of the erosion of U.S. soft power. After saying there was no problem in the wake of two crashes, the most recent on Sunday, the Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday grounded Boeing’s 737 MAX 8 and MAX 9 aircraft. The FAA usually shows the way, but many other governments had already banned the planes.

Soft power, the influence a country wields though its cultural, technological and economic strength, is difficult to measure. Yet blue jeans, computers and movies were potent weapons for the United States during and after the Cold War. President Donald Trump’s America First mantra and policies have eroded that edge somewhat, with the country falling to fourth in the Soft Power 30 ranking last summer, from top of the list just two years earlier.

Aviation is a good example. American planes are sold worldwide. The nation’s technological base allows Boeing and suppliers to keep near the forefront of advances in materials and software. Other countries respect that advantage, and overseas regulators usually follow FAA decisions – for example in approving new aircraft made by Boeing.

In the 737 MAX case, the FAA was a laggard. When close U.S. allies with a reputation for sober regulation, like the UK and Canada, banned flights, it became harder to shake off concerns that the U.S. watchdog was holding out for the wrong reasons.

That the top three positions at the FAA are all currently awaiting permanent occupants and acting Administrator Dan Elwell was once a lobbyist for airplane manufacturers is not unusual in today’s Washington. But hands-off governance and revolving doors can only further reduce other governments’ confidence.

A study of people in 25 nations by the Pew Research Center published in October showed America’s image declining, with 70 percent of the respondents expressing no confidence in Trump’s leadership and a similar proportion believing the United States takes little to no account of the interest of other countries.

It’s too early to know what really factored into the two Boeing crashes, but it’s hard not to think a different FAA would have taken a more proactive approach. Others essentially did the job in its place. Even allies are increasingly skeptical of Washington’s leadership.