Part 5/13:
However, the U.S. and other Western nations appear to have gradually rejected the notion of territorial expansion, opting instead for diplomatic solutions. Disputes like those over Hans Island between Canada and Greenland or Pheasant Island between France and Spain illustrate a shift from military confrontation toward amicable settlements—even if the historical legacies of those disputes linger on.
In 2014, the Netherlands and Germany even agreed to jointly administer a disputed river, showing a trend toward cooperation rather than conflict. The transition that led to this territorial indifference has become embedded within Western cultural values. Over time, it has become socially unacceptable to even contemplate territorial acquisition, a concept once accepted in military history.