The U.S. spends considerably more of its national wealth on peacekeeping and defense activities than its European allies.
Some analysts see such a development as an attempt to move out from under the U.S. shadow.
The U.S. has always wanted European countries to shoulder a greater burden of their own defense. But military budgets throughout the continent are now being cut, even though these countries were reportedly embarrassed by the size of American commitments during recent operations compared to their own. Investor's Business Daily, December 21, 1999.