3 ms·

I mostly agree. Europe’s biggest weakness is that many nations still carry grudges against each other, rooted in hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of years of

I mostly agree. Europe’s biggest weakness is that many nations still carry grudges against each other, rooted in hundreds, sometimes even thousands, of years of conflict. These old prejudices usually only get pushed aside when there is a serious external threat, such as the ever present possibility of a devastating war on the continent. The US has a much more unified culture, enormous scale, and a geographically protected position, with access to vast resources. Europe has the technical talent, but much of its technology has often been bought by US firms, partly because VC funding is far weaker here. I think that is largely cultural. At the same time, Europeans were sold the idea that the US is their friend. It is an ally, but not a friend, and that distinction matters. Now that illusion has started to break, there is finally an incentive to change. If the EU becomes strategically protectionist in the same way the US already is, for example by preventing key IT companies from being sold overseas, it could gradually move critical infrastructure back under European control. It can do this partly by copying already proven solutions, such as AWS. Of course, this would not be easy, but Europe does not need to spend billions discovering a completely new product category from scratch. The models already exist. Surely the first problem I mentioned will be the biggest obstacle for all of this as it is for everything. We will see what happens, but at least something has started to move. European's should unironically thanks the hollow head currently leading US, because he simply didn't understand that European dependence on US is a weapon, not a burder.

cmiles8 3mo ago
>>“Europeans were sold the idea that the US is their friend. It is an ally, but not a friend, and that distinction matters.“ This is a fair and key point and also worth considering the view from the other side of the pond. Americans were legitimately getting fed up that the ally-ship was getting too one sided on who’s pulling their own weight in the relationship. Military spending is one hot topic coming to light again now that the neighborhood is looking unstable again. Europeans often say “but look at our social net you silly Americans.” The American view often says “your social net has all that government money because your defense is highly subsidized by us.” That’s glossing over a few points but the math is directionally correct. Europe is running the numbers and increasingly realizes this too. Reckoning with that is one of many future hurdles facing Europe.
- FpUser 3mo ago
  >" ally-ship was getting too one sided" unless you consider the world accepting USD as the reserve currency which is enormous "one sided" gift to the US. I remember how hysterical orange went with various threats when the idea of dedollarisation had started to get any roots.
  - hsuduebc2 3mo ago
    That was mainly my point. If you are paying for security, you are paying for someone's obedience. Not even mentioning that European armies dependant on American weapons is gigantic security risk, which no one ever will be held accountable. This all I perceive as biggest US influence based weapon which is slowly slipping away. I understand that politically it is sold as that European countries are leeches, which is absolutely an valid optic, but I believe this was still trade benefiting US more than Europeans. Needles to say I would gladly see my country spend much more on military, reform pensions system which is absolutely botched and become much more self-confident.
FpUser 3mo ago
>"copying already proven solutions, such as AWS" Who says that copying AWS is any good. Some version of it sure is useful but the rest is nothing but arm twisting half of the world into idea that they should be paying huge rent to a giant corporation for the things that can and should easily be done without. Corporations like this are a threat to security.
- hsuduebc2 3mo ago
  Absolutely. I meant their occasionally usefull services in general like ec2, s3, etc... They probably exists but usere still not accepted them as an standard.

cmiles8 3mo ago

>>“Europeans were sold the idea that the US is their friend. It is an ally, but not a friend, and that distinction matters.“ This is a fair and key point and also worth considering the view from the other side of the pond. Americans were legitimately getting fed up that the ally-ship was getting too one sided on who’s pulling their own weight in the relationship. Military spending is one hot topic coming to light again now that the neighborhood is looking unstable again. Europeans often say “but look at our social net you silly Americans.” The American view often says “your social net has all that government money because your defense is highly subsidized by us.” That’s glossing over a few points but the math is directionally correct. Europe is running the numbers and increasingly realizes this too. Reckoning with that is one of many future hurdles facing Europe.

FpUser 3mo ago
>" ally-ship was getting too one sided" unless you consider the world accepting USD as the reserve currency which is enormous "one sided" gift to the US. I remember how hysterical orange went with various threats when the idea of dedollarisation had started to get any roots.
- hsuduebc2 3mo ago
  That was mainly my point. If you are paying for security, you are paying for someone's obedience. Not even mentioning that European armies dependant on American weapons is gigantic security risk, which no one ever will be held accountable. This all I perceive as biggest US influence based weapon which is slowly slipping away. I understand that politically it is sold as that European countries are leeches, which is absolutely an valid optic, but I believe this was still trade benefiting US more than Europeans. Needles to say I would gladly see my country spend much more on military, reform pensions system which is absolutely botched and become much more self-confident.

FpUser 3mo ago

>"copying already proven solutions, such as AWS" Who says that copying AWS is any good. Some version of it sure is useful but the rest is nothing but arm twisting half of the world into idea that they should be paying huge rent to a giant corporation for the things that can and should easily be done without. Corporations like this are a threat to security.

hsuduebc2 3mo ago
Absolutely. I meant their occasionally usefull services in general like ec2, s3, etc... They probably exists but usere still not accepted them as an standard.