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> a proxy takeover in a minor ally power That sounds more like "How can we maintain a sphere of influence and a de facto empire" rather than "How can we ensure
by sevenless 10y ago
> a proxy takeover in a minor ally power
That sounds more like "How can we maintain a sphere of influence and a de facto empire" rather than "How can we ensure the nation is defended from attack." National borders are (mostly) sharp, so either you're being invaded or you aren't. Spheres of influence are fuzzy, and indeed fuzzy claims are susceptible to gradualist takeovers.
I agree that a large conventional military is indispensible if you want to go the imperialist route. However, that raises the question of whether imposing your will on the entire world is legitimate. I would advocate that it is not, that it makes the world a worse place.
In a world without strong international laws, if you want to safeguard other nations from attack and promote peace, sell them nuclear weapons. The logic of nuclear deterrence is hard to argue with, and safeguards the weak from the strong. For example, had Iraq had nuclear weapons in 2003, the US would have been deterred from invasion and the world would likely be a more peaceful place today.
- mavhc 10y agoWould be interesting to have a list of nations that have a complete fence/wall/etc
- ajuc 10y ago> National borders are (mostly) sharp, so either you're being invaded or you aren't. See Russia-Ukraine war. "Uprising" starts using weapons made in Russia. They say it's not them. Do you nuke them over it? How about later, when they carved out the part they like, and admit it was them all along, but promise "we won't go further". Do you nuke them? How about when they formally annex that part? It's called salami tactics, and it unfortunately works. That's why you need conventional army to defend. Well, at least if you live in a region with 19th century-style empire wannabe.
- sevenless 10y agoThe Ukraine annexation by Russia was supported by most of the local residents, though. The way to resolve situations where regions of the country want to become independent or join another nation is by allowing them to vote on secession.
- ajuc 10y agoThe referendum was performed with Russian army and some local thugs overseeing it with guns ready, I'm not 100% sure it was representative, but let's not argue about that here, it's offtopic anyway, because Russia didn't only invaded parts with Russian majority. Russia also invaded parts of Ukraine that had Ukrainian majority, and war still goes on there (just less intensive). There's nothing preventing them from invading still more parts. So "let's just give away contested territories" is not a good solution - because if 30% minority is contested territory- then after giving it away - it will be contested territory for the other side as well. We've tried this after WW1 and it didn't worked.