After the American Shield: Europe Stands Alone—and Exposed

The true winner of World War II was neither the Soviet Union, nor Britain, nor France—it was the United States. The massive flow of capital fleeing war-torn Europe into America triggered an explosive rise in U.S. industry, economy, and military power. Gradually, the Western order took shape around Washington. First came leadership over Europe—then dominance over the world. But like every hegemon before it, America’s decline began to take form nearly two decades ago. The reality is simple: America’s economy and society were never built to sustainably lead the entire world. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the burden placed on Washington exceeded its real capacity. The cost of managing a unipolar world proved heavier than the system could bear. Now, as signs of decline become impossible to ignore, the United States is quietly shrugging off the heavy responsibility of managing Europe. And for a Europe that outsourced its security for decades, this shift is deeply dangerous. The possibility of a Russian confrontation with NATO has plunged many European states into anxiety. Military budgets are soaring. Mandatory conscription laws are making a comeback. And national economies are being restructured for wartime conditions. Under such pressure, European countries can no longer maintain shared borders and aligned economic interests as they once did. Given these realities, the collapse of the European Union is no longer unthinkable.