The EU is mostly on a peninsula. The only direct threat right now comes from Russia, with maybe some sort of Ottoman Empire style Muslim Empire being a potential problem. Europe has enough coastline to easily trade in resources. As long as the US and China leave Europe alone, there is no real reason to even become a global superpower.

Seriously if Ukraine wins, then Europe is rich and secure for quite some time.

[–] CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Even if it doesn't formally unite (which it won't in the near future), a US-independant Europe would be a superpower by virtue of economic might.

with maybe some sort of Ottoman Empire style Muslim Empire being a potential problem.

Yeah, don't hold your breath on that one!

[–] frezik@midwest.social 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Europe puts a ton of international shipping through three choke points. Gibraltar, Suez Canal, and the English Channel. The US Navy is more than capable of locking down all three. So would a Chinese Navy that's built more for blue water operations than they are now. Europe doesn't have the air or naval capacity to counter that.

The options left are land routes and going north of England. And even going to the north of England wouldn't be safe for shipping.

[–] MrMakabar@slrpnk.net 5 points 1 week ago

Europe would have more aircraft in the air and European navies are also rather more capable then you might believe. There are reasons the US does not train against European submarines.