After the US bombed nordstream 2 the EU is completely reliant on the US for energy demands. If the US wants to escalate this there is essentially nothing that the EU can do short of war, which it is never going to do against the US. They will probably begrudgingly capitulate eventually as the US could economically destroy Europe.

This is ironic, given that Russia was always very fair with gas, even during the Ukraine war they continued to supply Europe with gas, even while Europe supplied Ukraine with weapons they continued to be fair.

The US will leverage this position. Europe is completely reliant and does not have sovereignty in military, weapons, energy or technology. The US is going to be a far bigger bully to Europe than Russia ever was as a fair trading partner.

I am European for the record. I live in the UK, where our country is acting as pathetic lapdog because it too is leashed and essentially a vassal state to US interests. This first wave of tariffs for disobedience is essentially the US disciplining their dog.

[–] Beaver@hexbear.net 9 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

This is ironic, given that Russia was always very fair with gas, even during the Ukraine war they continued to supply Europe with gas

I think Russia is counting on this to force on an eventual re-alignment of Europe towards Russia and away from the USA. Russia would prefer to have a friendly Europe to whom they sell fossil fuels. But if that doesn't work out, they would be satisfied with a Europe squeezed out of primary inputs and suffering from industrial collapse, and a USA disengaged from NATO.

The status quo from before the Ukraine invasion was kind of the worst of both worlds for them. Sure, they got the revenue from energy sales, and they had some alignment with Germany... but it all had the effect of simply powering Europe's industrial capacity, and did nothing to stop US economic and covert warfare against Russia. The Ukraine invasion seemed so confusing and counter-productive to me when Russia launched... but I can see now that strategic nudges were just not going to cut it anymore, and they had to shake up the strategic situation. (not that I think they were expecting such a long and grinding war).

The nordstream bombing really demonstrates that the USA knows exactly the game being played, and that they have a correct assessment of how much they can fuck around with European leaders before they'll really break.

[–] a_party_german@hexbear.net 3 points 19 hours ago* (last edited 19 hours ago)

I think Russia is counting on this to force on an eventual re-alignment of Europe towards Russia and away from the USA.

Yes, lovely idea - but there are no Russia-friedly politicians in power anywhere in the larger EU countries to make this a reality. The entire EU establishment is solidly anti-Russia at this point and will be for years - especially once the disaster in Ukraine becomes more visible in the future.

[–] red_giant@hexbear.net 39 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Just imagine the non-binding resolution they’ll pass in the EU parliament.

Letters will be written like you’ve never seen. They shall CONDEMN this very sternly.

[–] 666@lemmygrad.ml 34 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Rolling eyes where?

[–] Infamousblt@hexbear.net 25 points 22 hours ago

That's probably true. Europe will collectively roll their eyes while Trump takes Greenland. They certainly won't put up any actual resistance against it