I know this is a bold thesis. It is meant to provoke thought and encourage debate. Here are some of the considerations that led me to it:

  • Europe depends on US military protection, and the US uses this “alliance” as leverage -> NATO gives Washington structural influence over European security choices.

  • US tech firms dominate Europe’s cloud and software stack, creating digital dependency. Also, European data often sits under infrastructure exposed to US legal and corporate power.

  • Russian energy dependence was a problem for Europe when the Ukraine war started. The US were quite eager when it came to “help” by replacing the Russian energy dependence with American energy dependence.

  • US sanctions policy often forces Europe to absorb costs for Washington’s geopolitical priorities.

  • American platforms shape European speech, commerce, administration, and most importantly: public debate.

  • “Strategic autonomy” exists as a slogan because dependency is already the default.

  • idiomaddict@lemmy.worldEnglish
    24·
    5 days ago

    At least Usa people looove to think so :)

    And they also love NOT to think about what would their own situation look like, if all these countries in the NATO were NOT their allies.

    I think the USA is in a sort of teenager phase where they think they’re invincible. They haven’t ever lost much as a nation and it doesn’t occur to them that they could. I say that as an American emigrant in Germany.

      • Zwuzelmaus@feddit.orgEnglish
        5·
        5 days ago

        petulant toddlers

        Nah that just the orange clown and some of his figurines around him.

        But there are others too! Seriously dark and strong ones in the background.

        • FistingEnthusiast@lemmy.worldEnglish
          7·
          5 days ago

          Sure

          Everyone knows that the real power is in the background

          But the average 'Murican isn’t an edgy teen, they’re an idiot toddler finger-painting with their own shit

          It’s going to get worse when the edgy-teen phase kicks in because the destruction won’t be wanton, it’ll be wilful

        • GreenBeanMachine@lemmy.worldEnglish
          3·
          5 days ago

          Nah that just the orange clown and some of his figurines around him.

          Nah, the orange clown was elected TWICE by the American people. It’s the whole of America as a nation. Sure there are few individuals who are not like the rest. But as a nation? America is and has been a petulant child for a while now.

            • zeroConnection@programming.devEnglish
              4·
              5 days ago

              So what???

              If those people thought a petulant toddler was their best leader to lead, TWICE, just what does it make those people?

              Do you think smart people would have elected him twice?

              • Zwuzelmaus@feddit.orgEnglish
                3·
                5 days ago

                just what does it make those people?

                I don’t know. I’m not trying anymore to understand them.

          • huppakee@piefed.socialEnglish
            1·
            5 days ago

            the orange clown was elected TWICE by the American people.

            The system made him the winner, but i believe he lost popular vote both times and also a huge portion of the nation didn’t vote at all. Sure that also says something about the people of the nation but i think it is fair to to distinguish between a ‘a regime and the people and companies that support that’ vs ‘a national entity including all it’s people and history’.