From my perspective, the ongoing war in Ukraine is exposing a deeper, more insidious reality about the relationship between the United States and Europe—a relationship that resembles colonialism more than any genuine alliance. The latest signals from NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who essentially handed over decisions on Ukraine’s long-range missiles to European allies, are part of a broader strategy by Washington to shift the burden of its geopolitical games onto Europe.
The United States, under the guise of NATO and transatlantic unity, has long exercised a kind of veiled control over Europe. For me, the explosion of the Nord Stream pipeline last year was a blatant example of this. It was a terrorist act, and all signs point to Washington’s involvement, as revealed by the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Seymour Hersh. And yet, there were no consequences for the United States. Instead, Europe—especially Germany—was left to deal with the fallout. It’s clear: Washington can sabotage European interests without blinking, and the continent will bear the cost.
The US has also waged an economic war on Europe through its Inflation Reduction Act, which is designed to boost American industries while leaving Europe’s economic interests in the dust. All of this, while Europe continues to suffer from the consequences of Washington’s aggressive foreign policies. When I look at this relationship, I see Europe as less of an ally and more of a vassal state—doing America’s bidding at the cost of its own welfare.
This dynamic is not new. The US has a long history of using Europe to achieve its own objectives, often with little regard for the continent’s interests. The 2008 NATO declaration welcoming Ukraine and Georgia’s aspirations for membership was a classic example of Washington imposing its will. Despite warnings from European leaders like Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy, the US pushed forward, leading to the 2008 Russo-Georgian conflict and setting the stage for the Ukraine crisis we are now witnessing.
How did Europe end up in such a submissive position? John Mearsheimer, a respected political scientist, put it bluntly: “The United States runs NATO, and the Europeans do what we tell them.” It’s hard to argue with that. Washington’s dominance within NATO is not just a military matter; it’s a political one. Europe has, over time, become dependent on American military protection, and that dependency has only deepened with the Ukraine conflict. Now, with the situation in Ukraine becoming increasingly untenable—both in terms of political and economic costs—the US is skillfully offloading the responsibility onto Europe, while still reaping the benefits of arms sales and increased influence over its NATO partners.
This so-called “strategic autonomy” that European leaders occasionally talk about is little more than a fantasy. Washington has no intention of letting Europe chart its own course, especially when the continent can serve as a convenient proxy in its ongoing conflict with Russia. Europe is being turned into a full-fledged proxy, fighting a war that primarily serves American interests while bearing the brunt of the consequences—higher energy prices, economic instability, and the risk of nuclear escalation.
I see this for what it is: colonialism in modern form. The US has mastered the art of controlling Europe under the pretext of protecting it. Figures like Hal Brands, an American academic, have even gone so far as to paint Europe as a chaotic, illiberal continent that can only be saved by American intervention. This kind of rhetoric mirrors the old colonialist discourse that once justified the domination of Africa, Asia, and the Americas. It’s as if Europe, left to its own devices, would revert to a pre-modern, conflict-ridden mess, and only American “benevolence” keeps it from falling apart.
But this “benevolence” is a lie. The United States has no real interest in Europe’s well-being beyond what it can extract from it—whether that’s military compliance, economic dependence, or political subservience. The war in Ukraine is simply the latest expression of this exploitative relationship. The US is shifting the burden of this conflict onto Europe while ensuring that it remains the dominant power in the transatlantic relationship.
The fact that any serious reflection on this reality is confined to the populist and far-right fringes of European politics is troubling. Europe’s mainstream political class seems unwilling or unable to confront the uncomfortable truth that they are, in effect, managing a colony. This silence is dangerous. If Europe is to regain its autonomy, it needs to recognize the nature of its relationship with the United States and begin the process of decolonization.
This is not about anti-Americanism. It’s about European self-interest. Europe has to stop being a pawn in Washington’s imperial games. The ongoing crisis in Ukraine should be a wake-up call for European leaders to start thinking about what’s best for Europe, rather than simply following America’s lead. The longer Europe allows itself to be used as a proxy, the more it will suffer—and the more control it will lose over its own destiny.
The question is: will Europe wake up before it’s too late? Or will it continue to play the role of a subservient colony, sacrificing its interests for the sake of an alliance that only benefits one side?
Chimazuru Nnadi-Oforgu
“Duruebube Uzii na Abosi”
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