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Most European nations are allies with the US via NATO. That means they wouldn't have a choice. An attack on the US would be an attack on all NATO allies. An arm

Most European nations are allies with the US via NATO. That means they wouldn't have a choice. An attack on the US would be an attack on all NATO allies. An armed response would be necessary, unless they wanted to break the treaty. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO

LatteLazy 6y ago
Yeah, that is the theory for a scenario where the USA or European mainland was attacked first but... First, if you were (say) France and China launched in the Pacific, would you really doom millions of you’re people by joining in? Really? Second, NATO obligations are limited to defence, so if the USA launched first (or otherwise started the conflict) other members would be free to opt out. If China hit Japan or Taiwan, NATO would not be involved, the USA would be obliged to get involved (japan is an ally). At that point NATO has no obligation at all and the USA and China are racing to get missiles in the air. Third, NATO obligations only apply to attacks in Europe or North America (plus French Algeria and a few other “specials”). That’s why the UK fought the falklands solo (often with NATO allies actively undermining it). So there are a lot of US bases that a first strike against wouldn’t actually trigger NATO commitments for. I think (check my geography)than an invasion of Guam wouldn’t be covered. Not sure about Hawaii, but it doesn’t seem to be covered either. NATO is sort of a mess and since the fall of communism has struggled to find a purpose beyond honouring commitments and organising military activities for preagreed conflicts. But convincing France to sacrifice Paris is a bigger deal than asking for 100 troops for peace keeping in Afghanistan.
- nyghtly 6y ago
  I'll concede that it's not a certainty.
  - LatteLazy 6y ago
    I'm happy to concede it might happen, or more likely I guess some nations would and others wouldn't. I can see the UK following the US blindly. France and other powers much less likely but that's just my opinion. Let's hope it never happens. I am actually really glad the Chinese only have ~300 warheads. That's a lot saner than others...
627467 6y ago
Not saying it would happen, but as you stated: breaking the treaty is a possibility... Maybe made more likely if the choices are assured destruction in case of total war between China/Russia and USA or possible avoidance of total war due to breakdown in NATO

LatteLazy 6y ago

Yeah, that is the theory for a scenario where the USA or European mainland was attacked first but... First, if you were (say) France and China launched in the Pacific, would you really doom millions of you’re people by joining in? Really? Second, NATO obligations are limited to defence, so if the USA launched first (or otherwise started the conflict) other members would be free to opt out. If China hit Japan or Taiwan, NATO would not be involved, the USA would be obliged to get involved (japan is an ally). At that point NATO has no obligation at all and the USA and China are racing to get missiles in the air. Third, NATO obligations only apply to attacks in Europe or North America (plus French Algeria and a few other “specials”). That’s why the UK fought the falklands solo (often with NATO allies actively undermining it). So there are a lot of US bases that a first strike against wouldn’t actually trigger NATO commitments for. I think (check my geography)than an invasion of Guam wouldn’t be covered. Not sure about Hawaii, but it doesn’t seem to be covered either. NATO is sort of a mess and since the fall of communism has struggled to find a purpose beyond honouring commitments and organising military activities for preagreed conflicts. But convincing France to sacrifice Paris is a bigger deal than asking for 100 troops for peace keeping in Afghanistan.

nyghtly 6y ago
I'll concede that it's not a certainty.
- LatteLazy 6y ago
  I'm happy to concede it might happen, or more likely I guess some nations would and others wouldn't. I can see the UK following the US blindly. France and other powers much less likely but that's just my opinion. Let's hope it never happens. I am actually really glad the Chinese only have ~300 warheads. That's a lot saner than others...

627467 6y ago

Not saying it would happen, but as you stated: breaking the treaty is a possibility... Maybe made more likely if the choices are assured destruction in case of total war between China/Russia and USA or possible avoidance of total war due to breakdown in NATO