They actually still think they're important enough for the US to come and rescue if they got into trouble. In such a scenario reality will hit them like a speeding truck but they just don't see it.
Western Europe & UK is in big trouble. They have massive debts and no collateral. Unless they can get their hands on some real wealth soon the whole zone is going under.
If only there was somewhere close by that had plenty of wealth and if only they could somehow grab a piece of it
By the way, turns out Russia is desperate to invade western Europe apparently, presumably to get their hands on … umm, the enormous wealth there.
Yes, western Europe need to shift to a war economy real quick to save themselves from the Russian menace. War is coming.
Alex Krainer: Economic Collapse & the End of Europe