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.

  • trollercoaster@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    1·
    6 days ago

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

    Europe could easily end this, but this would entail facing some uncomfortable truths. The main component of US military protection is the nuclear deterrent. building one of their own isn’t palatable to the populations of some European countries, and so is the return to conscription in order to build a military personnel pool suitable for conventional deterrent.

    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.

    What the fuck is “tech”? Not going to argue against a bullshit term.

    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.

    Energy dependence is a problem, and so is energy as a whole. Unfortunately, the problem of energy production and distribution is largely left to prinate businesses, even though it is a vital part of a modern country’s infrastructure. This leads to price gouging and neglect of maintenance in order to increase shareholders’ profits, at the detriment of entire societies. THis is an ideological problem, partly caused by the US, too, because they did export their radical free market ideology to their vassal states.

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

    So? Sanction right back, two can play that game.

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

    That’s not something that can’t be changed. Those American platforms only exist in Europe, because they can make profits. If they do harm society, fine them, and, regardless of that, tax their profits.

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

    This dependency has been built and maintained carefully, and did, at least for some time, serve somewhat mutual interests. Because the US chose to elect a bunch of morons into their government repeatedly, the interests this dependency serves, aren’t at all mutual anymore. The only solution is to get rid of it as an act of self preservation. Strategic autonomy for individual countries the size of those in Europe isn’t really feasible given the size of the great powers, though, but there is a solution to that: The EU, which should strive for strategic autonomy.