I read a similar article just yesterday. You actually put an important piece in bold:
“With the Americans having one foot out of the door, everybody is saying ‘we must take more responsibility’ but there just is no forum,” he argued. “It’s very hard to see where the sensible, collaborative, pooled efforts can come from if we haven't even got a way of working out together where our priorities lie.”
You have to understand...the burden has been on our back and not theirs for years. Hence, the above quote. The World has been lazy with regards to this...and have no structure.
That's our fault ..akin to enabling parents. Shame on us..... and shame on them :)
No friendships have been trashed. A good acquaintance is not the same thing as a friend. You should do a little research on espionage between the two(UK and US)...and then look at every other so called friendship. Friends don't spy on their own friends.
p.s. We have never done anything that didn't fit our interest...ever. Well....95% of the time ;)