Crisis revived US, British role in Europe
With Ukraine fighting for its survival and Russia on the brink of economic collapse, it seems there are truly no winners in war.
Except, perhaps, those who benefit while sitting on the sidelines. The strategic situation has been completely upended by the invasion, reasserting American and British power in Europe just as it appeared to be on the verge of collapse.
New life has been breathed into Nato, an alliance that seemed to be on the brink of dissolution just weeks ago. Some of the leading French presidential candidates have openly campaigned for France’s withdrawal from Nato. British forces had already withdrawn from Germany, ending a presence on German soil that had continued since the end of World War II.
American presence has waned during the past few decades. American troops have been cycled into the Middle East, and the unpopularity of the Iraq war left some in Europe feeling hostile to the United States military.
In addition, Turkey is the black sheep of the Nato family. It has barely cooperated with the transatlantic alliance and has even launched its own campaigns in Syria against the Kurds.
But the decline of US influence in Europe, along with the economic tensions that sprang up in the wake of Brexit, has been undone. Europeans can no longer be suspicious of Washington or bitter about Brexit. As all eyes are on Moscow, such issues will be left on the back burner.
It is unclear if Ukraine will survive. As Russian troops become bogged down, it is also unclear if the Kremlin will get what it wants. One thing is for sure. With Nato more relevant than at any time in the past 30 years, Anglo-American influence is not leaving Europe any time soon.
Timothy Wong, Central