I think it's the other way around. The things we are seeing are an expression of the Washington empire receding and loosing its grip on its outermost border provinces. This leads to local power centers gaining importance.

Bad news for Europe: as the empire looses ability to tax said provinces, the older provinces to the core get squeezed harder, since empires are inherently unable to cut spending. Therefore chances of revolt are heightened and this results in a death spiral.