Part 5/11:
The post-World War II landscape saw the U.S. not only rebuilding European economies but also positioning itself as the predominant military protector of the continent. Instances like the Suez Crisis of 1956 demonstrated the lengths the U.S. would go to in order to prevent European nations from taking independent military action. Similarly, France’s short-lived attempt to extricate itself from U.S. influence during the 1960s ultimately failed, as it rejoined NATO, reflecting Europe’s overarching dependence on American military support.