British power in a world without the United States

Would Britain become the permanent global hegemon if the United States did not exist?

Britain would probably remain a major power with a larger navy, while its size, costs, and other states still prevent permanent uncontested hegemony.

Without the United States as a dominant security patron, Britain would have to keep a larger navy and more independent military capacity. Other European states would face the same pressure to provide for their own defence. Britain is still too small to hold permanent uncontested global primacy. It would remain more prominent and capable than in the historical Cold War, while other powers continued to limit its reach.