Europe may be realizing that its interests and the US’s aren’t always one and the same, and deciding to do something about it. From the editorial board at Oriental Review, orientalreview.org:
Washington’s current foreign-policy practice is a bit reminiscent of the golden era of the Ottoman Sublime Porte, in the sense that any visit by a leader of a vassal state is seen as nothing more than an opportunity for a public demonstration of his willingness to serve the great sultan or, in the modern context, to do the bidding of the master of the White House.
The visitor must also wear a big grin and speak passionately about how happy he is to have been given the opportunity to kiss the Sultan’s slippers. Or, to put it in the language of today, to be impressed with the leadership of the US and personally inspired by the energy of the American president. The Washington establishment can’t wrap its head around any other configuration, and therefore in the present era of America’s ebbing hegemony, the ideal visitors to the White House are the presidents of Ukraine or the Baltic countries. The other heads of states that come to Washington, including EU leaders and even some African presidents, act like insolent upstarts, who — from the standpoint of imperial tradition — do not stand to attention, tend to offer their flattery without fervor or exuberance, and, most importantly, do not race off to fulfill the wishes of the leaders of the empire.
The meeting between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump on April 27, 2018 served only to confirm that Washington does not need allies who have their own national interests: all allies must be guided by the concept of the unipolar hegemony of the US. Anyone who is uncomfortable with this is relegated to the circle of those who are seen as unfriendly to the White House. The Washington Post makes it clear that Germany falls into this latter camp: “Angela Merkel is becoming Europe’s weakest link.”
To continue reading: Has Europe Rebelled?
This is laughable. Nations that seek to pursue their own interests are free to do so but cannot claim to be allies when they follow agendas at odds with the USA. For example how can Mexico be described as an ally or evebn Germany or France for that matter?
Our allies are clear, the UK, Australia, NZ, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Jordan, Israel, a few nations in South America, and a few nations in Europe. But most of those nations that proclaim themselves as America’s allies? Their as welcome as that drunken uncle one hides in the attic during family reunions.