That is a very short-sighted view. The US’ role as world police allowed it to station troops all over the world, projecting power and influence in every corner of the world. Every deal any country in the world made, always at least considered a US deal. The US was able to influence politics without actually having to flex the military muscle. They could always still do that if diplomacy didn’t work. The projection of scientific and cultural power was also part of that influence.
And why can’t the EU step up? The EU chose to let the US become the world police because they thought it would easier and cheaper. And now they are pissed about it.
The EU is legitimately currently trying to be the region police (not world police) as we speak. Part of that involves building up our own military industry. The US government is not happy about that, to put it mildly.
“Currently trying”. Well, that only took several generations to pull their collective heads out of their asses. Imagine what that industrial/military complex is going to eventually cost EU citizens. Once you get on that particular horse, it’s hard to get off.
They did not choose to. The EU wasn’t even a thing when the USA became the de facto world police.
And after WW2 the USA was so dominant that any such attempt by Europes stronger countries would have been in vain
That is a very short-sighted view. The US’ role as world police allowed it to station troops all over the world, projecting power and influence in every corner of the world. Every deal any country in the world made, always at least considered a US deal. The US was able to influence politics without actually having to flex the military muscle. They could always still do that if diplomacy didn’t work. The projection of scientific and cultural power was also part of that influence.
And why can’t the EU step up? The EU chose to let the US become the world police because they thought it would easier and cheaper. And now they are pissed about it.
The EU is legitimately currently trying to be the region police (not world police) as we speak. Part of that involves building up our own military industry. The US government is not happy about that, to put it mildly.
“Currently trying”. Well, that only took several generations to pull their collective heads out of their asses. Imagine what that industrial/military complex is going to eventually cost EU citizens. Once you get on that particular horse, it’s hard to get off.
They did not choose to. The EU wasn’t even a thing when the USA became the de facto world police. And after WW2 the USA was so dominant that any such attempt by Europes stronger countries would have been in vain