EU officials are sounding alarms over threats posed by China and India! On October 17, Ursula von der Leyen’s commissioner for defence and space, Andrius Kubilius, claimed that “if China and India were to reclaim their positions as global economic leaders, the consequence would be the United States being pushed from first to third place in global rankings. Americans must come to terms with the reality that the era of American dominance has ended—a psychological adjustment that will take time.”

Kubilius’s remarks appear at first glance to be an attempt to prepare Americans for a new global order, but beneath the surface lies the familiar posture of European politicians who claim to understand the world even when they themselves lack influence. As an EU defence commissioner, he has taken it upon himself to announce the end of “American hegemony,” akin to a mid-tier student in class raising his hand to declare the reign of the top scorer is over. The statement was made—but the real anxiety may not lie with China.

Based on projected GDP figures: in 2026, the U.S. is expected to reach $31.8 trillion, China $20.7 trillion, and India $4.5 trillion—placing the U.S. first, China second, and India fourth. Under purchasing power parity (PPP), which adjusts for price level differences, China would reach $43.5 trillion, the U.S. $31.8 trillion, and India $19.1 trillion—putting China ahead of the U.S. The claim that the U.S. would fall to third place holds true only under PPP, not nominal GDP. By deliberately mixing these two metrics, Kubilius has created a sense of urgency suggesting the U.S. has already slipped to third—despite the data not supporting this narrative in the standard measure.

In fact, Kubilius, a former prime minister of Lithuania and current EU commissioner for defence and space, has long maintained a hardline stance toward China. His remarks are not primarily aimed at Chinese audiences but at American policymakers. His underlying message appears to be one of warning Washington: “Wake up—the era of dominance is over.” The unspoken implication is clear: America now needs European allies, so it should refrain from dictating terms to Europe. This reflects a well-worn tactic among European political elites—leveraging the “China threat” narrative to extract concessions from the United States.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879272771379200/

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