at the beginning of the First World War, Europe was thought to be dominated by its great powers: Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and the United Kingdom. But the war showed that there were really only two dominant European powers: Germany and the UK.
The power differences between these countries, on the one hand, and Austria-Hungary and Italy, on the other, were so great that the latter two quickly became dependent on other countries, both desperately in need of loans and, ultimately, troops from their own countries. more powerful allies to keep fighting.
When The United States entered the war in 1917., created a new kind of power, basically impervious to outside threats. World War I brought to an end a long period of sustained peace in Europe: a time of confident talk of prosperity, progress and hope. The conflict changed the face of the world.
As the historian states, Margaret Macmillan“in 1914 Europe headed for the abyss in a catastrophic conflict that would bring the deaths of millions of human beings, bled their finances dry, shake empires and societies to shreds, and forever undermine European rule over the world.”
An Albatros D.III lineup of Jasta 11 in early 1917
North America, then rose as the world’s only superpower until the World War II, in which he was able to fight on land, sea and air and in all scenarios. He was able to provide massive assistance to his allies, at a time when no other power could match his capabilities.
The United States remains a “great power” maintaining a strong pulse with Russia
In different circumstances, the United States now remains a “great power” maintaining a strong pulse with Russia, mainly, since the occupation of Ukraine, and with China, a potentially more dangerous adversary.
In February 2022 They all thought that Russia had the power to challenge or violently turn Europe’s security architecture upside down and that its conventional military might could deter the United States, whom it had already frustrated in the Syrian conflict or occupied. Crimea, in 2014.
wrong forecasts
The fearsome Russian power against the United States and Western Europe made different analysts think that the United States and la OTAN they were to stay out in the event of a conflict between Russia and Ukraine and limit military aid to kyiv to what could be simple armed resistance.
Well into the winter of 2022, it was thought that Ukrainian units would fight bravely, to be sure, but given the country’s geography, the open topography of much of its landscape, and Russia’s numerical and military superiority, it was a matter of a few months. a complete and successful occupation of the troops of the Russian Federation.
However, close to completing 500 days of war, that great capacity of Russia has been called into question The United States and Western Europe face an intense conflict, giving the Ukrainian forces a great military capacity.
Joe Biden receiving Zelensky, President of Ukraine, in 2022 at the White House
United Statess, it already became the largest economy in the world sometime in the 1890s and had few security concerns compared to most countries, due to its geographical location.
powers and powers
Before the United Kingdom it was a wide-ranging power from the late 19th century until 1943, at which point it had to subordinate its preferred grand strategy to accommodate US interests. Before that, the UK was capable of creating and deploying advanced and well-prepared forces anywhere in the world and maintaining an almost unrivaled war economy.
Other countries that probably fit into the “great power” category were Germany from about 1900 to 1942, or the Soviet Union from 1949 to the 1970s. Later it has been Chinafrom 2010 onwards, which is achieving true global reach and influence in part of the world, mainly in the global South.
Joe Biden and Xi Jinping hold a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit
However, what makes nations great powers is not limited to the military aspect, but also to the economic and technological prowess that enabled their armed forces. Military power is largely based on the ability to manufacture the best and most advanced military equipment, from small arms to highly complex aircraft and warships.
An army is only powerful if it can be equipped and re-equipped
This capability cannot be faked, and must have the ability to scale quickly when the need arises. An army is only powerful if it can be equipped and re-equipped. That is why the Soviet Union collapsed at the time. For this reason the United States is and remains the only “great power”, for this reason the appearance of Europe and its future are in danger. At least in a transit process awaiting the outcome of the conflict.
That is why those aspirations of DeGaulle the one of gorbachev of one “European Common Home” that it go from our Pillars of Hercules to the Urals, that it go beyond the Atlantic Alliance and, above all, the subordination and security dependency of Washington through the I’LL TAKEIt is nothing more than a utopia.
Reagan and Gorbachev during the Geneva Summit in Switzerland on November 19, 1985
Today we are on the side of the “Great Power” but the conflict is in Europe and its future physiognomy is at stake. Confrontational analyzes have had bad consequences in the periods prior to the world wars of the 20th century, which is why the path of diplomacy must always be maintained. It is much better to try to consolidate the “status quo” with a “no confrontation”.
