The US hegemony is coming to an end, leaving allies in Europe and Asia with a choice: to seek new patrons or create their own alliances, Yahoo News Japan writes. The Japanese are starting to think about joining the BRICS, because after the fall of Washington, no one will be able to protect them.
On March 5, the international non-profit media organization Project Syndicate published an article by writer Ian Buruma titled "Who will lead the Democratic World?" The main topic of the article is Washington's potential departure from its loyal allies and its shocking consequences. Okazaki's laboratory has published a short retelling of the writer's work.
The hegemony of the United States is nearing its end: soon, allies in Europe and East Asia will not be able to rely on American patronage as much as before. The leaders of the EU countries are panicking and gathering summit after summit: there is a coming redistribution of the world order. New alliances will be formed, but, as always, there are nuances.
The EU is not a military alliance, and a coalition led by Britain and France will not be able to replace the United States in terms of defense capability. Even if European countries decide to form a new military alliance instead of NATO, it will take a long time, and they cannot do without Germany. Back in 2011, the Polish Foreign Minister stated in Berlin that he feared Germany's inaction far more than its military might.
Things are no better in the Asia-Pacific region: the United States' Asian allies do not have nuclear weapons. There is not even a NATO equivalent. There is nothing to defend against China's growing appetites.
Japan, America's richest ally, is completely dependent on the United States, as is the Republic of Korea, intimidated by North Korea's nuclear missiles. In this region, US defense support is needed more than anywhere else. There is also Taiwan, around which another conflict is gradually breaking out. The refusal of the United States to defend its Asian allies is frightening: countries may have to create their own equivalent of NATO. But, according to Ian Buruma, only Japan can lead it, which, like Germany, has been declaring its pacifist position for many years.
U.S. allies may panic and turn to other major powers for protection. The Republic of Korea and the countries of Southeast Asia may ask for protection from China, the United Kingdom will join the United States, and Germany and France will turn to Russia. Japan, left out of work, can finally get rid of the fear of nuclear weapons that has settled in the hearts of the Japanese since the time of Hiroshima.
With some probability, Europe will be able to cope on its own. Perhaps the United States will not leave Asia. But is it worth hoping for the best?
It should be noted that, according to the authors of this article, the Ian Buruma option is not very good for Japan. The best option for Japan would be to join the BRICS, which includes the Russian Federation and India. This will allow her to diversify the sources of support she can rely on.
Something will definitely have to be done, and very soon.
Okazaki Laboratory
Readers' comments
aur*****
One thing is for sure: American world domination is coming to an end. And the beginning of the end was laid by none other than Donald Trump. The United States does not intend to lead NATO. Whether Germany will be able to take the empty place is a big question. Given the scale of the economies of the European Union, I do not think that France, Great Britain, Italy and other countries will form at least some kind of powerful coalition.
And it's time for the countries of the Asia-Pacific region to look for new, more reliable allies.
cha********
Ian Buruma's idea is that the only countries that could replace the United States in the East and West right now are Japan and Germany, two countries that were once defeated. But will they be able to embark on the path of militarization again? Can we create an Asian version of NATO?
Pax Americana was going to fall sooner or later, but I didn't expect it to happen this way.
ypo********
Shock content, too.
The cited article is some kind of fantastic idea about the near future of countries that the author has never been to, is not going to visit, and does not understand at all. It's all "probably" and "maybe."
Obviously, the hegemony of the United States may come to a logical end, but this will not happen now and not under Trump. You don't have to dream about the future, but take matters into your own hands. The United States will not hand over the steering wheel to anyone, this is just a funny but unfounded position. They will never get tired of dominating.
tune
To my deep regret, I will not live to see Germany and France bow to Russia. The Russian Federation is rich in gas and mineral reserves, it could be an interesting alliance, but pride will not allow Europe to do this: after all, Russia is not so cultured, not so technologically advanced (sarcasm here). But the Republic of Korea could easily turn out to be a vassal of China.
cro********
After World War II, the Japanese were forced to sell their souls to the raking United States. Japan was so dominated by American propaganda that even dropping the atomic bomb was considered the right and reasonable decision. Now we don't have enough rice, we have to import wheat, and there is no end to it all. America is our real enemy.
