Russia and China Are Driving a Wedge Between Estranged U.S. and Europe

During his speech to the Munich Security Conference in 2007, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a prediction that many in the West dismissed. He said the Western system of alliances -- with its "one master, one sovereign" sitting in Washington, D.C. -- would eventually “destroy itself from within."

That speech has aged remarkably well. Twelve years on, as world leaders gathered in Munich again for their annual summit, the Europeans in attendance admitted that Putin had been right.

During his speech to the Munich Security Conference in 2007, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a prediction that many in the West dismissed. He said the Western system of alliances -- with its "one master, one sovereign" sitting in Washington, D.C. -- would eventually “destroy itself from within." That speech has aged remarkably well. Twelve years on, as world leaders gathered in Munich again for their annual summit, the Europeans in attendance admitted that Putin had been right.