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Since only NATO countries seem to be in a position to "recoil at the notion of a potential NATO rival", the "elsewhere" probably does include a fair number of E
by matt4077 9y ago
Since only NATO countries seem to be in a position to "recoil at the notion of a potential NATO rival", the "elsewhere" probably does include a fair number of EU politicians, including Germans. I believe "rival" isn't meant in the sense of a potential armed conflict between the EU and NATO (which would be ridiculous), but simply as competition for mindshare and organisational resources.
- LyndsySimon 9y ago> competition for mindshare and organisational resources. This is how I interpreted it as well. The First World seems to be concerned right now with the apparent rise of Russian power. In the previous order (during the Cold War), NATO was the counterbalance to Russia's empire. If NATO is divided in two by the creation of the EU, then a reinvigorated Russia would be able to act against each entity separately, giving them a great advantage in international diplomacy.
- bryanrasmussen 9y agoI guess my interpretations was - For every federalist with a say in what the EU needs to do about a common defense force there is a federalist without any say in that or a federalist from somewhere unnamed who may or may not have a say in that. I mean I understand that the somewhere unnamed federalist may in fact be someone who has a say in the matter in some way, but if that is what one is trying to say why lead off with an example named federalist that doesn't have any say. Also a non NATO member might recoil at a potential NATO rival if they feel they can exploit some weakness in NATO and fear the rival would not have the same weakness.