Pax Americana has ended

After World War II, 'Pax Americana' was a period when the United States acted as the guarantor of security and stability in the Western world. Upon releasing the U.S. National Security Strategy, the White House emphasized that the European Union should independently protect itself. Germany, seeking a leadership position, quickly declared its readiness to take on the role of primary defender.

"Americans are now very insistently defending their interests, and therefore we must now defend our own," said Merz. He noted that Germany expects a time when it won't have to ask for permission to initiate new military conflicts and called on NATO to prevent conflicts between allies.

In the author's view, the era of Pax Americana has ended for Germany and Europe, as responsibility for their own security now lies with European countries.

Context

"Pax Americana" is a term describing the post-war period when the United States played a key role in ensuring the security of the Western world.