@samueljohnson@rustoleumlove You could say the German-led EU is a consensual empire, as evidenced by the fact it expanded its borders without a single shot being fired, in stark contrast to the Russian Empire, which only spreads by force and which not even Russians wish to be part of. Russia will collapse one day, leading to an East Asian takeover of Siberia, and a German-led EU takeover of European Russia. I suspect when this occurs, America won't be too pleased with the new power arrangement.