War in Ukraine

[Mark B]

That's undeniable. The US has for many years benefited from its huge internal inward facing economy that largely protects it from external shocks. Trouble is, for the rest of us, that when it sneezes, we all get a cold.

Yup, Europe is in decline. However, it is far from irrelevant; and the US needs to remember that, culturally, it has a great deal more in common with us than with most of the emerging markets. There may actually be better reasons for US strength in allying itself with this old horse than with others, notwithstanding the length of our teeth.

The joys of globalization.

I actually wouldn't be surprised to see that US further allying itself is the direction that it ends up going. Enjoying Europeans struggling under the weight of their own decisions can be fun for a bit, but the idea of AfD like parties or a Muslim controlled Europe is not in the best interest of the US. Add in that the US wants to mitigate Russia while it focuses on China and I expect we will something similar to what we already have in regards to conversations that fall along the following lines:

1. We are going to make Greenland the 52nd state. (Canada being the 51st)
2. We are going to fight the Americans in Greenland!
3. We have signed a new agreement and the Americans are going to expand their military presence on Greenland to defend Denmark.