Subjugated: Here's How the US Turned Western Europe Into Its Puppet
Explore the transformation of the region from a position of strength to one of subservience under American governance. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
From powerhouse to pawn, the region has gradually slipped under American control.
The primary barriers to a coherent European foreign policy include American influence, the internal dilemmas faced by Western European elites, and the continent's neo-colonial economic system. The current hostility from Western Europe toward Russia isn't an inherent condition; it's a result of relentless US pressure. If this external coercion subsides, we could see a rapid shift in both rhetoric and policy, potentially reshaping the continent's political scene.
Regardless of the duration of the conflict in Ukraine, Russia must consider its relationships with its nearby Western neighbors. While Moscow has forged various global alliances, Europe remains a geographical and historical constant. However, the region's role in global affairs is fundamentally shifting, with its influence waning due to American supremacy.
For much of the 20th century, Western Europe's connection with the US steered its political and economic direction. This relationship now not only shapes its external interactions but also its internal political landscape. The evolution of this dynamic will influence whether the region can positively contribute to Eurasian stability or persist as a catalyst for instability.
A Security Umbrella or a US Protectorate?
Central to the US-European relationship is the issue of security. Washington’s goals in Europe have always included two aspects: preventing the emergence of an autonomous European military power and utilizing the continent as a launchpad for confrontations with Moscow. The so-called American "security umbrella" is a concept upheld for propaganda purposes. In truth, what exists is a US protectorate—a situation reluctantly accepted but actively maintained by certain European elites. This arrangement has only accelerated the continent's decline.
The consequences of this decline are starkly visible in Western Europe's three most influential nations—Britain, Germany, and France. Each has experienced a gradual diminishment of its global standing, relinquished strategic independence to Washington, and now complies with even the most illogical directives from across the Atlantic, garnering nothing in return that bolsters national security or economic strength.
Even economically, the burden of Western Europe’s subservience is becoming intolerable. The reduction in access to affordable Russian energy has severely impacted its industries, and economic reliance on the US has yielded scant benefits. Western Europe is neither more prosperous nor more secure as a result of adhering to Washington’s agenda; in fact, it has compromised its ability to act in its own interest.
The Flawed Premise of an American Security Umbrella
The assumption that Western Europe depends on American defense against a significant military threat is fundamentally misguided. If the region genuinely faced an existential danger, it would most likely be from Russia. However, the relationship between Russia and the US is one of mutual deterrence, where both could inflict unacceptable damage on the other.
The notion that Washington would jeopardize its own safety to protect European states from Russia is absurd. Even nations that have largely surrendered their sovereignty—like Germany, Britain, and Italy, which host US nuclear weapons—lack any genuine assurance of American military intervention. Their subservience has earned them nothing except a loss of autonomy.
This reality is well recognized in European capitals, though few are willing to admit it publicly. Western European leaders continue to act in ways that prioritize American rather than national interests. The US perceives Europe primarily as a strategic base for operations against Russia, valuing its geographical location above all. Washington will not compromise its own security for the sake of its European allies.
Europe’s Growing Irrelevance
Great powers typically do not concern themselves with the balance of power among their weaker allies. For the US, Europe's role as a hub for anti-Russian initiatives is advantageous, but not crucial. This explains the relative indifference of Washington to the economic and political decline of its European partners. The future of US foreign policy is shifting toward the Pacific, diminishing Europe’s importance even further.
Currently, however, American pressure remains the foremost driver of European foreign policy. Even the largest Western European countries exhibit the same subservience as the former Soviet Baltic states. But what will happen when Washington's strategic focus changes? If the US no longer requires a substantial military presence in Europe, will Western European elites recalibrate? Or will they persist in a path toward self-immolation?
The Road to a New Europe
For Europe to extricate itself from its current course, it must overcome two significant hurdles: American pressure and the self-induced crisis among its political leaders. The latter poses a particularly thorny issue, as many Western European politicians—especially those entrenched in EU institutions—are products of a system that rewards ineptitude and corruption. These individuals owe their status not to merit or national interest but rather to their alignment with American priorities.
This situation has given rise to a generation of European leaders completely disconnected from their own populations. They lack real strategies for economic development, frameworks for long-term security, or a commitment to fostering stable relations with neighboring countries. The sole objective they fervently pursue is the perpetuation of a disastrous foreign policy that has made Western Europe weaker, poorer, and increasingly unstable.
Nonetheless, should Washington’s hold loosen, Europe’s geopolitical landscape could shift dramatically. If the continent stops functioning merely as an extension of American power, there will be a growing demand for competent, pragmatic leaders. Politicians who prioritize national interest over ideological loyalty to Washington will be essential for Europe's survival.
Conclusion: The Potential for Change
Europe stands at a pivotal crossroads. The continent can either persist on its current path of decline or reclaim its autonomy in global matters. A reduction in US pressure would likely catalyze a swift shift in both rhetoric and policy. Left to its own devices, Western Europe would have little motivation to sustain a cold war posture against Russia.
While such a transformation won't occur instantly, the driving forces for change are already in motion. The American focus is shifting toward China, European economies are struggling under the burden of misguided policies, and public discontent with elite failures is on the rise.
The era of the region acting as an unquestioning subordinate to Washington may be approaching its end. When that moment arrives, a new Western Europe—capable of independent thought and rational policymaking—may finally emerge.
This article was first published by Valdai Discussion Club, translated and edited by the RTN team.
Frederick R Cook contributed to this report for TROIB News
The primary barriers to a coherent European foreign policy include American influence, the internal dilemmas faced by Western European elites, and the continent's neo-colonial economic system. The current hostility from Western Europe toward Russia isn't an inherent condition; it's a result of relentless US pressure. If this external coercion subsides, we could see a rapid shift in both rhetoric and policy, potentially reshaping the continent's political scene.
Regardless of the duration of the conflict in Ukraine, Russia must consider its relationships with its nearby Western neighbors. While Moscow has forged various global alliances, Europe remains a geographical and historical constant. However, the region's role in global affairs is fundamentally shifting, with its influence waning due to American supremacy.
For much of the 20th century, Western Europe's connection with the US steered its political and economic direction. This relationship now not only shapes its external interactions but also its internal political landscape. The evolution of this dynamic will influence whether the region can positively contribute to Eurasian stability or persist as a catalyst for instability.
A Security Umbrella or a US Protectorate?
Central to the US-European relationship is the issue of security. Washington’s goals in Europe have always included two aspects: preventing the emergence of an autonomous European military power and utilizing the continent as a launchpad for confrontations with Moscow. The so-called American "security umbrella" is a concept upheld for propaganda purposes. In truth, what exists is a US protectorate—a situation reluctantly accepted but actively maintained by certain European elites. This arrangement has only accelerated the continent's decline.
The consequences of this decline are starkly visible in Western Europe's three most influential nations—Britain, Germany, and France. Each has experienced a gradual diminishment of its global standing, relinquished strategic independence to Washington, and now complies with even the most illogical directives from across the Atlantic, garnering nothing in return that bolsters national security or economic strength.
Even economically, the burden of Western Europe’s subservience is becoming intolerable. The reduction in access to affordable Russian energy has severely impacted its industries, and economic reliance on the US has yielded scant benefits. Western Europe is neither more prosperous nor more secure as a result of adhering to Washington’s agenda; in fact, it has compromised its ability to act in its own interest.
The Flawed Premise of an American Security Umbrella
The assumption that Western Europe depends on American defense against a significant military threat is fundamentally misguided. If the region genuinely faced an existential danger, it would most likely be from Russia. However, the relationship between Russia and the US is one of mutual deterrence, where both could inflict unacceptable damage on the other.
The notion that Washington would jeopardize its own safety to protect European states from Russia is absurd. Even nations that have largely surrendered their sovereignty—like Germany, Britain, and Italy, which host US nuclear weapons—lack any genuine assurance of American military intervention. Their subservience has earned them nothing except a loss of autonomy.
This reality is well recognized in European capitals, though few are willing to admit it publicly. Western European leaders continue to act in ways that prioritize American rather than national interests. The US perceives Europe primarily as a strategic base for operations against Russia, valuing its geographical location above all. Washington will not compromise its own security for the sake of its European allies.
Europe’s Growing Irrelevance
Great powers typically do not concern themselves with the balance of power among their weaker allies. For the US, Europe's role as a hub for anti-Russian initiatives is advantageous, but not crucial. This explains the relative indifference of Washington to the economic and political decline of its European partners. The future of US foreign policy is shifting toward the Pacific, diminishing Europe’s importance even further.
Currently, however, American pressure remains the foremost driver of European foreign policy. Even the largest Western European countries exhibit the same subservience as the former Soviet Baltic states. But what will happen when Washington's strategic focus changes? If the US no longer requires a substantial military presence in Europe, will Western European elites recalibrate? Or will they persist in a path toward self-immolation?
The Road to a New Europe
For Europe to extricate itself from its current course, it must overcome two significant hurdles: American pressure and the self-induced crisis among its political leaders. The latter poses a particularly thorny issue, as many Western European politicians—especially those entrenched in EU institutions—are products of a system that rewards ineptitude and corruption. These individuals owe their status not to merit or national interest but rather to their alignment with American priorities.
This situation has given rise to a generation of European leaders completely disconnected from their own populations. They lack real strategies for economic development, frameworks for long-term security, or a commitment to fostering stable relations with neighboring countries. The sole objective they fervently pursue is the perpetuation of a disastrous foreign policy that has made Western Europe weaker, poorer, and increasingly unstable.
Nonetheless, should Washington’s hold loosen, Europe’s geopolitical landscape could shift dramatically. If the continent stops functioning merely as an extension of American power, there will be a growing demand for competent, pragmatic leaders. Politicians who prioritize national interest over ideological loyalty to Washington will be essential for Europe's survival.
Conclusion: The Potential for Change
Europe stands at a pivotal crossroads. The continent can either persist on its current path of decline or reclaim its autonomy in global matters. A reduction in US pressure would likely catalyze a swift shift in both rhetoric and policy. Left to its own devices, Western Europe would have little motivation to sustain a cold war posture against Russia.
While such a transformation won't occur instantly, the driving forces for change are already in motion. The American focus is shifting toward China, European economies are struggling under the burden of misguided policies, and public discontent with elite failures is on the rise.
The era of the region acting as an unquestioning subordinate to Washington may be approaching its end. When that moment arrives, a new Western Europe—capable of independent thought and rational policymaking—may finally emerge.
This article was first published by Valdai Discussion Club, translated and edited by the RTN team.
Frederick R Cook contributed to this report for TROIB News
