Germany's Mirror

 
Spiegel's editor writes an opinion piece:

There is no reason why 500 million Europeans shouldn’t be able to defend themselves against Russia on their own.

But that changes nothing about the fundamental shift that has taken place: Trump and his cronies have shattered the world order that has guaranteed security and prosperity in Europe and the United States since 1945. It was a unique system built on the foundation of an economic and military alliance within which the U.S. held the leadership role, but which depended on close cooperation.

The new U.S. president only sees the burdens this alliance placed on America’s shoulders; he is blind to its benefits. He sees the world through the eyes of a 19th-century imperialist: In his view, the world’s great powers should divide the world among themselves and demand complete subservience from their vassals. But Europe cannot succumb to this worldview. It must now rediscover its economic and military strength to survive in this new world – one defined by the naked pursuit of power.

Germany is very important. Spiegel is well-informed (it was the first to accuse China of the COVID epidemic). Not long ago its industry outcompeted all. Is Germany homecoming to its historical obsession, the "pursuit of power"?