If the US just "disappeared," which of these countries would lead the free world

[Gass3268]

Germany is already the leader of the free world after Trump has abandoned the United State's standing. So them.

[Santander]

Russia

Many Serbians unironically believe this. Appalling people.

[Tintrlvr]

Well I don't know whether anything like the "free world" actually exists, it just seems to be a neocon idea, in the broader sense if America was removed China would indisputably be the dominant world power, its economy is already 30% bigger than America's at $27 trillion in PPP terms and will be as big as US + EU by the early 2030's. It's conventional military strength would also be the worlds largest and allied with Russia which would have nuclear hegemony, China would have the ability to exercise almost complete control over world affairs if it wanted to, even with America it should be said China is already so strong that it can exercise influence abroad in even relatively big countries.

In a no-US scenario, I can't imagine China and Russia staying friends for long. They have little in common and few shared global interests other than general disdain for democratic institutions and countries promoting them.

[The Mikado]

In the hypothetical post-NATO world (which we do seem moving in the direction of), there isn't really going to be a bloc labeled "the Free World," just an assortment of countries.

So, no, I reject the premise that there will still be a "leader" of the "Free World." There will still be an EU, and still be a Japan, and a Canada, and an Australia, etc, but the global order, whatever's left of it, will cease to exist.

[LAKISYLVANIA]

Germany, UK or Russia.

Russia would probably be the most powerful, and to distant itself from China, they would be the leader of the relative free world, not as free as Western Europe though, just like America isn't as socialized as Western Europe.

Germany or UK if i'm wrong though.