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.

    • Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org
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      7 days ago

      petulant toddlers

      Nah that just the orange clown and some of his figurines around him.

      But there are others too! Seriously dark and strong ones in the background.

      • FistingEnthusiast@lemmy.world
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        7 days ago

        Sure

        Everyone knows that the real power is in the background

        But the average 'Murican isn’t an edgy teen, they’re an idiot toddler finger-painting with their own shit

        It’s going to get worse when the edgy-teen phase kicks in because the destruction won’t be wanton, it’ll be wilful

        • huppakee@piefed.social
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          7 days ago

          the orange clown was elected TWICE by the American people.

          The system made him the winner, but i believe he lost popular vote both times and also a huge portion of the nation didn’t vote at all. Sure that also says something about the people of the nation but i think it is fair to to distinguish between a ‘a regime and the people and companies that support that’ vs ‘a national entity including all it’s people and history’.

          • zeroConnection@programming.dev
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            7 days ago

            So what???

            If those people thought a petulant toddler was their best leader to lead, TWICE, just what does it make those people?

            Do you think smart people would have elected him twice?

            • Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org
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              7 days ago

              just what does it make those people?

              I don’t know. I’m not trying anymore to understand them.