When US officials say to the Europeans, “We need you,” what they mean is quite minimal: “Please do not collapse and bring down the global economy with you.” Europeans have become the Japanese of the West – financial contributors who at best play a supporting role in global strategic affairs.
但如果欧洲不再是资深的地缘政治行动方，他还能成为一种模式吗？当美国官员对欧洲人说“我们需要你们”时，他们的意思是轻蔑的：“请不要在崩溃时把全球经济也拖下水。”欧洲人成了西方的日本人——资金提供者，充其量只是全球战略要务的支持角色。