America's accountability crisis is coming for Europe, too

The current crisis in transatlantic relations is the most severe since the end of World War II, analysts say. The annual Atlas of Impunity, which ranks countries by how much state power operates without accountability, now places the United States at 117th out of 172 countries. The U.S. is the only wealthy democracy moving up the impunity list, with significant deterioration in freedom from political killings and impartial public administration.

The current U.S. administration not only fails to address this trend but actively defends it, as seen in the 2025 National Security Strategy, which frames allies as free riders and alliances as transactions. This stance is unlikely to be temporary, as the U.S. today is more insular, selfish, and insecure.

However, the crisis also stems from Europe's weakness and self-delusion. For years, Europe mistook dependence for partnership, relying on cheap Russian energy and an open Chinese market. Now these pillars have crumbled, forcing Europe to act on all fronts. Illiberal tides have already entered Europe, evidenced by events in Serbia, Romania, Hungary, and Slovakia, as well as far-right polling leads in the UK, Germany, France, and Italy.

For the first time, the U.S. is not holding the democratic center but funding the periphery. The U.S. State Department plans to channel Democracy Fund money to European national-populist movements, normalizing "copycat impunity."

The trend can be reversed, as smaller countries like Fiji, Montenegro, and Suriname have rebuilt accountability under constraints. The question is whether Europe, Canada, and Asian democracies will recognize the danger in time and act as custodians of an order they can no longer leave in others' hands.