I’ve read before that the US couldn’t realistically defend the Baltics from a ground invasion due to distance. It could only re-capture it afterwards. Your best bet is a strong Europe (Germany, Poland) that can actually provide assistance if Russia decides to invade the Baltics.
Yes, the world without the US would create a massive power gap and instantly cause multiple wars everywhere. Also I don’t know of a country who has the geographical characteristics and the will to pick up US naval protection. The US is kind of unique in that aspect. China doesn’t want to do it, and their geography limits them to a degree. I’m worried about the Pakistan-India-Chinese feuds as these countries kind of hate each other and have nuclear weapons.
With that being said, it’s very unlikely that the country will explode due to its debt issues. It will definitely hurt the average person’s well being with higher interest rates and inflation, though.
It was a very nasty setup, they practically tried to present Zelensky as a thug of sorts.
It’s like the US administration is made of amateurs who are just now discovering that Russia is untrustworthy and is playing US presidents to further its goals, like they faked friendship with Bush in the 2000s when they were weaker.
With that being said, the US is still helping Ukraine defend itself, but it’s much more transactional now.