EU negotiators prepare for tough talks on finance for developing countries at the COP29 climate talks that open in Baku, Azerbaijan, next week, #EuropeNews
Then I invite you to get going without us. I'm so tired of the European idea that they are so much better than Americans until they need to do literally anything, and then suddenly it's "We can't do it without the Americans." Am I gonna have to start posting that insipid Marilyn Monroe quote, or can we get some year round support over here, instead of just when it's in fashion.
Social security, medical cost, food safety, product safety, consumer protection, worker protection are just some things off the top of my head where the EU is far ahead of the USA. We're only really dependent regarding defense, but honestly, the EU military would probably be enough to stand against Russia if it came to it.
It was the deal made after world war 2. Europe buys your goods, uses dollar for international trade and reserve currency, buys oil from American companies and trade oil in petro dollars, making American citizens the richest in the world. In turn we have Pax Americana meaning USA beings the world's police, militair bases on European soil, and cooperation in things like climate.
If the choice is made to change that deal, a lot of things will change too. Probably not for the better.
The arrangement after WWII wasn’t about Europe doing America a favor. The U.S. took on a huge financial burden with programs like the Marshall Plan to help rebuild Europe, a debt that wasn’t fully repaid. Given Europe’s weakened currencies and economies, the dollar naturally took the lead as the global reserve currency.
The petrodollar system, meanwhile, was a separate deal made with Saudi Arabia in the 1970s—not at Europe’s urging. Saudi Arabia agreed to sell oil in dollars, largely because the U.S. had a strong economy and a stable currency, making it attractive for oil trade.
As for Pax Americana, the U.S. assumed a global policing role partly because WWII left much of the world in ruins. Our military and financial support for alliances like NATO strengthened Europe’s security during rebuilding, with the U.S. shouldering the largest share of costs.
So, it’s not fair to frame this as Europe generously allowing the U.S. to ‘play ball.’ For nearly a century, the U.S. has provided extensive support to Europe and other allies, and while America has benefited strategically, it’s also taken on substantial costs and responsibilities.