Is Europe a vassal of the US?

Speaking during an official visit to China, Emmanuel Macron said that Europe should chart its own course and be a 'third pole' in world affairs between Washington and Beijing – and not be a vassal to either as the New Cold War threatens to escalate. Unsurprisingly, his comments have caused unease among many European leaders, for whom unquestioned alignment with Washington is the only way.

Is Europe today “a vassal” of the US? And if we were to chart our own course, what should that look like?