> The Chinese don't live in fear of whether Benelux is 'friendly' to them or not, and if the Beneluxers went insane and started trying to invade their neighbours, I'm sure China would treat it much the same way as Europe treats every war in Africa or Asia. Much 'concern', many pleas to follow international law.

This is absurdly reductionist. Population matters (140 million vs 30 million). Location matters. Size matters. Industrial-military base matters. Legacy matters (there is a reason teams with a winning pedigree tend to win in tight spots). Nukes matter.

The US can't handle Iran. It couldn't handle Iraq. Afghanistan. Vietnam.

All of a sudden Russia is a total pushover handled through "prowess".

This kind of hubris is exactly why the American empire will end sometime this century.

And before you say it doesn't matter, look up what happens to global reserve currencies when they're no longer global reserve currencies. Go look up what happens with debt repayments in that case.

The American lifestyle will suffer some harsh adjustments at all levels, probably in a few decades, at most.

And FYI, Europe has already tripled its defense spending. I hope none of it gets spent on US tech of any kind.