Why is it that some people in the USA refuse to ascribe agency to their allies? A large reason that NATO didn't dissolve and also expanded was that the European

Why is it that some people in the USA refuse to ascribe agency to their allies? A large reason that NATO didn't dissolve and also expanded was that the Europeans (possibly not the French) wanted it. Especially Eastern Europeans. As a Brit it's clear to me that US hegemony is essential to my countries economy, the US needs the trade lanes to be open, so does the UK... but only the US has the navy to keep them open. This means that the alliance is very much of benefit to the weaker memebers. Ok, sometimes I have seen the arrogance and corruption of the US when dealing with junior partners. It's clear we can't win big at the tables without someone strong arming us off. But, we are allowed to play the big folks game and will a bit, and we are allowed to play in games that the big folks aren't interested in. This was not the case for junior partners in previous hegemonic arrangements. We should be (and are) grateful. That's why NATO is at the gate... because it's nicer than the other options.