Mahathir's record of curbing civil liberties and his antagonism towards western interests and economic policy made his relationships with the United States, United Kingdom and Australia, among others, difficult.
Rekam jejak Mahathir dalam mengekang kebebasan sipil dan penolakannya terhadap kepentingan dan kebijakan ekonomi Barat mempertegang hubungan luar negeri Malaysia dengan Amerika Serikat, Britania Raya, dan Australia.