I would say fuck tech companies, you can live without them and it's only a small inconvenience but the fact that Europe doesn't have fully independent banking system is insane. EU worked fine when soft power was enough to get things done and stay safe. They forgot to maintain actual power and are now realizing they are defenseless in an increasingly hostile world. Let's hope they will manage to grow some spine before it's too late.

[–] manxu@piefed.social 8 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Credit card processing is not hard to do, and the EU is already working on the Digital Euro, which is in many ways an equivalent.

It's just that it seems so pointlessly stupid to gamble the global reach of American credit card processing on Bibi Netanyahu being slightly inconvenienced by an international arrest warrant.

And yes, ever after the cave-in at the tariff "negotiations," I sure hope European capitals start strengthening their spines, because they will be needed soon enough. Brazil, China, and India shrugged at Trump's threats and he blinked. Europe fell on its knees and looks increasingly like the chump.

[–] khannie@lemmy.world 1 points 5 days ago

I think there was enough backlash at the bending of the knee on the tariffs that I very much hope they've learned their lesson there.

It was shockin'. Shockin'.