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The release of the new U.S. National Security Strategy has triggered sharp criticism from Germany. Berlin argues that the document levels sweeping accusations against Europe, portraying it as suffering from weak freedom of expression, uncontrolled immigration, and civilizational decline, while urging European states to shoulder more defense responsibilities. German officials have dismissed these messages as unwarranted interference in Europe’s internal affairs, stressing that they need no external advice.
In reality, Germany’s criticism stems from deeper concerns: Washington’s encroachment on Europe’s domestic policies, a lack of trust in Europe’s political and cultural capabilities, and growing pressure for heavier defense burdens. These disputes could seriously challenge the future of transatlantic relations. The first sparks of friction between the two allies appeared during Donald Trump’s first term, when he raised issues of security spending and defense contributions.
Few bilateral relations in modern history have experienced as many fluctuations as those between the United States and Germany. Over the centuries, this relationship has shifted from mild indifference and faint appreciation in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, to growing awareness, competition, and then open hostility in the early twentieth century. It then escalated into catastrophic conflict in the mid-twentieth century, followed by occupation, reconstruction, and eventually a stabilizing, post-1945 partnership.
Although the early trajectories of the two nations influenced and mirrored one another, they ultimately clashed in World War I, a conflict rooted in issues only partly resolved afterward. The outbreak of World War II revealed the shortcomings of the Treaty of Versailles, leading to the devastation of German civil society and cementing American dominance in the Western world. The United States’ ambitious effort to rebuild Germany along American lines shaped the postwar relationship. Yet the resurgence of nationalism in both countries in the early twenty-first century has revived old fears and long-standing questions.
Through the global dominance of the dollar—which accounts for more than 60 percent of foreign currency reserves worldwide—the United States not only shapes the global economy but also effectively turns dependent countries such as Germany and broader Europe into “financial colonies.” Analyst Harald Haring argues that this dominance traces back to the 1944 Bretton Woods system, where the dollar became the global reserve currency. Today, this influence extends through extraterritorial sanctions, restrictions like limiting access to SWIFT, and pressure on central banks. He calls it a form of “hidden imperialism,” as Washington can dictate other countries’ policies without military intervention.
After World War II, the Marshall Plan and Europe’s reconstruction framed the dollar as a “savior,” yet in practice created deep dependency. For a devastated Germany, accepting dollar-based aid opened its markets to American corporations and tied its monetary policies to the Federal Reserve.
In essence, the dollar functions not just as a currency but as a geopolitical weapon used to maintain American supremacy . This dominance intensified during the Cold War and continues through mechanisms such as the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which restricts European companies from trading with states like Iran or Russia.
Three key arguments define the dollar’s hegemony and its impact on Germany and Europe:
1. Financial dependence:
As one of the world’s leading exporters, Germany relies on the United States for over 10 percent of its exports. German banks, including Deutsche Bank, operate under the direct oversight of the Federal Reserve, facing massive penalties for violations—such as the $7.2 billion fine imposed on Deutsche Bank in 2017. This dependence weakens Berlin’s autonomy. For example, the U.S. forced Germany to halt the Nord Stream 2 project through the threat of dollar-based sanctions.
2. Extraterritorial sanctions:
The dominance of the dollar allows the United States to globalize its domestic laws. Europe, with nearly 40 percent of its trade conducted in dollars, is particularly vulnerable. In 2018, German companies like Siemens and Volkswagen suffered billions in losses after withdrawing from Iran, while Chinese competitors filled the gap. This dynamic amounts to a modern form of “neo-colonialism,” reducing Europe to a subordinate of Washington.
3. Global inequality:
Dollar supremacy benefits Wall Street far more than the real economy. The 2008 financial crisis is a stark example: after printing trillions to stabilize global markets, the United States shifted much of the resulting debt burden onto others. In Germany, this led to imported inflation and a weaker euro.
Defense and security issues have also fueled disputes, especially since Trump pressed European states to boost defense spending. Analysts point to disagreements over NATO contributions, G7 dynamics, Nord Stream 2, U.S. tariffs on German autos, and Germany’s policies toward China, Russia, and Iran—not to mention the planned withdrawal of 9,500 U.S. troops. Taken together, these tensions reflect deeper structural changes in the international system and divergent understandings of the emerging global order. Even American liberals remain skeptical of the European vision of multilateralism.
In recent years, particularly after Brexit, the United States has sought to prevent Germany from strengthening its leadership within the European Union and to weaken the EU as a whole. Germany, meanwhile, is attempting to preserve European integration while reducing its dependency on the U.S. across security, energy, and political spheres.
A review of historical trends shows that American intervention under various pretexts has brought Germany little benefit and significant economic, political, and security costs. Although Germany remains a long-standing U.S. ally, no country sacrifices its national interests for an alliance that threatens its autonomy.
For Europe to limit U.S. interference, rebuilding military capacity is essential. Decades of neglect have left not only Germany but most of Europe weak and heavily reliant on the American military umbrella. This dependence has produced cascading challenges in Europe’s economy, energy security, and strategic autonomy. Overcoming these challenges requires Europe—not just Germany—to adopt a more independent security posture, paving the way for greater stability and long-term resilience.
Translated by Ashraf Hemmati from the original Persian article written by Hakima Zaeimbashi
https://parstoday.ir/fa/world-i30268
https://norberthaering.de/en/27-attention-economy/dollar-imperialism/
https://www.ipis.ir/portal/newsview/609178
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