And yet you give no attempt at an explanation of why the US is spending more billions on EU defense than the EU is spending for themselves. I mean beyond the not so subtle insult that I must be naive...
When bombing Syria the US actively seeked the public support from EU countries even if it didn’t involve much action. Again, there’s a fine line between fighting a righteous war and an abusive, terrorist one. Between the righteous US and the terrorist Russia and China. And that means keeping friends close. Not “public” as in you or me but as it our leaders. When Germany actively refused to cut economic relations with Russia or Iran the US proposed withdrawing troops. Then looked to cause more tensions in Iran which would make it unpalatable for EU countries to continue these relations. In this connected world being alone is bad even if you have the biggest army.
If what I say was wrong the US would go ahead with no approval from anyone. But even when nobody supports that war with actions the US still waits for the public approval. Not doing it risks turning them into “just” another abuser. Any repercussions arising from this (allies distancing themselves, or cooling of economical and political relations) will not be solved by the US being a superpower. China is a superpower but without any validation from enough legitimate allies (like the EU) the superpowerdom is not enough.
Realistically speaking an actual show of force against Europe is absolutely off the table without risking them turning their allegiances east. Hence the alternative means if keeping friends.
Don’t take this as geopolitical analysis, just as pragmatic evidence since nobody spends hundreds of billions every year for “strangers” out of charity. It’s more effective to buy influence in the civilized world than to beat it out of them.