A personal view sitting far outside the USA.
Russia / China / N-Korea “The East” has collectively more troops, more desperate troops, more gains to be made than what they stand to loose, compared to say “The West” aka the USA.
And I don’t think Europe will back the USA against “The East” either. The USA went through Europe like a bull in a china shop. Bridge after bridge was burnt, faster than they can be re-built.
And lest we not forget Brexit. Can of worms if you ask me.
On top of that Europe has a serious yet very strategic ongoing problem in that the “Middle East” (read migrants) are flooding into Europe (by design) because of what is left of the “The Middle East”. The Middle east was destroyed, by decades of meddling by the USA, under guises like ISIS, nuclear armament etc.
No, this is all about “Business” (USA economy), propped up with “Oil” (Petro Dollar).
Oil bought with Petro Dollars.
Big “Business” in that if there is a risk of a economic slump, a new “war” is started to boost “Business”, to enforce the use of Petro dollars.
Threatening to move off Petro Dollars is a good start for a war.
And it seems Russia and China has started to move away from using dollars to buy oil.
So imagine my surprise … a sudden trade war is looming with China. And Russia is blamed for everything else in Europe and the Middle East.
The USA is bankrupt, in a corner. Remove the Petro Dollar and they are going to start a war, they are not going under without a fight. The USA NEEDS a new war.
“The East” and “Middle East” is ready to say no, ready to collectively get rid of the “Big Bully” aka USA.
I’m not sure it is a good thing, but what is currently going on, and where it is going, is definitely not working so well for the rest of us outside of the USA.
On a very philosophical note: The USA, like the Roman Empire, has reached the end of its usefulness.