‘Pax Americana Is Finished’ Unless U.S. and Europe Stand Together on Russia, Ex-NATO Commander Says

Former NATO Deputy Supreme Commander General Sir Richard Shirreff issued a stark warning this week, claiming that the era of Pax Americana the period of relative global peace maintained by U.S. dominance could be over if America and Europe fail to unite against Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Speaking to the BBC, Shirreff criticized Western leaders for their complacency in confronting Russian aggression, suggesting they are “asleep at the wheel.” He particularly called out U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent remarks in Saudi Arabia as being “Cloud Cuckoo Land,” accusing him of misunderstanding Russia’s true intentions.

Shirreff believes that Russia’s objective is nothing short of erasing Ukraine as a sovereign state, either by annexing its eastern and southern regions or by installing a puppet government in Kyiv to turn Ukraine into a client state akin to Belarus. He warned that any expectation of Russia agreeing to peace terms favorable to Ukraine is nothing but wishful thinking.

“Anyone who thinks that Russia will settle for peace on terms Ukraine can accept is deluding themselves,” Shirreff said.

Shirreff argued that President Donald Trump’s critical stance toward Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signals the end of American leadership on the global stage. “America has effectively abdicated its leadership of the free world,” he said. “With leadership comes responsibilities, and it has made it very clear that it is not going to be the security guarantor for Europe.”

This shift leaves Europe and Canada to forge a new security alliance without the U.S., Shirreff suggested. He warned that if NATO appears to be weakening, Russia might seize the opportunity to invade the Baltic states and push forward with its ambitions to rebuild the Russian empire.

Shirreff underscored the need for Europe to bolster its defense spending and replace the capabilities previously provided by American military support. He advocated for a robust NATO deterrent from the Baltic to the Black Sea, including welcoming Ukraine as a NATO member.

“To stop Russian aggression, we need a strong NATO presence and a clear strategy to support the Ukrainians in defeating Russia,” Shirreff said. “Anything less is merely starting the unraveling of European security, which could so easily end in catastrophe.”

The consequences of failing to confront Russia are dire, Shirreff warned. A fragmented NATO and a weakened Europe would embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin to expand his military campaigns, potentially leading to broader conflict and instability on the continent.

As negotiations and strategies continue to unfold, Shirreff’s message is clear: unity and strength are the only paths to preserving peace and stability in Europe and maintaining America’s role as a global leader.

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