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> Trump's plans to strengthen the eastern flank of NATO. Something Obama has been extremely weak on. I think you're going to need to start citing that, I'm not

> Trump's plans to strengthen the eastern flank of NATO. Something Obama has been extremely weak on. I think you're going to need to start citing that, I'm not aware of any such plans. Certainly nothing that rises to the level of action (e.g. announcing the removal of a third of the US forces in Germany, as happened last week). This is just a whataboutist response. While there is criticism to be made everywhere about all things, the idea that the Trump administration has NOT been extraordinarily compliant to Russian demands is just ridiculous.

auganov 6y ago
Germany is not on the eastern flank of NATO, many of the troops being withdrawn will be relocated closer to Russia [0] . And again the move was spurred in part by Germany's pipeline with Russia - Nord Stream 2. Which clearly shows the Trump administration is taking stronger steps to punish NATO members which cooperate with Russia. > Trump administration has NOT been extraordinarily compliant to Russian demands is just ridiculous Yes, this is completely false. The Trump administration has been tougher on pretty much everything involving Russian interests. From Ukraine, Iran, Syria, sanctions on Russia, to yes strengthening the eastern flank of NATO. [0] https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Speeches/Speech/Article/2292081/us-european-command-force-posture-policy-press-conference-secretary-espers-open/ https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Speeches/Speech/Article/229... "The current EUCOM plan will reposition approximately 11,900 military personnel from Germany – from roughly 36,000 down to 24,000 – in a manner that will strengthen NATO, enhance the deterrence of Russia, and meet the other principles I set forth"
ceilingcorner 6y ago
> Polish defence minister says the US will deploy 1,000 soldiers in Poland to oversee forces on NATO's eastern flank. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/07/poland-deploy-1000-troops-eastern-border-200731084535564.html https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/07/poland-deploy-1000-tr... The article even uses the term "NATO's eastern flank."
- foepys 6y ago
  Get 12,000 soldiers home from Germany, deploy 1,000 in Poland and call it strengthening the eastern front. That math doesn't check out at all.
  - ceilingcorner 6y ago
    1. Germany isn't on the Eastern Front. Poland actually borders Russia (the exclave on the Baltic.) 2. The US is in the process of building a military base in Poland. > In 2018, Poland proposed that the United States open a permanent military base within its country. The Polish government would finance around $2 Billion of the cost of hosting American forces, if the proposal was accepted by the United States. Poland has proposed either Bydgoszcz, or Toruń, as potential base locations.[18] Since 1999, Poland has sought closer military ties with the United States.[19] In June 2019, both sides agreed to send 1,000 U.S. troops to Poland.[20] In September 2019, six locations were determined to host approximately 4,500 of the U.S. military in Poland, including: Poznań, Drawsko Pomorskie, Strachowice, Łask, Powidz and Lubliniec. 3. Some of those troops will be moved from Germany to Poland. > On 24 June 2020, Trump said at a press conference with Duda that the United States plans to move some U.S. troops from Germany to Poland.[22][23] Trump said that "Poland is one of the few countries that are fulfilling their obligations under NATO — in particular, their monetary obligations — and they asked us if we would send some additional troops. ... I think [putting more US troops in Poland] sends a very strong signal to Russia." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poland–United_States_relations https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poland–United_States_relations Honestly, if you can't bother to do basic research about the situation, it's better to not comment on it.
    - bobthechef 6y ago
      Indeed. > 1. Germany isn't on the Eastern Front. Poland actually borders Russia (the exclave on the Baltic.) The Kaliningrad exclave is quite small, but it poses a real danger when the Suwalki Gap is taken into account. Given Belarus' friendly ties with Russia, there is only a small band of land that needs to be cut off to trap the Baltic states. It's important to secure that stretch. Ideally, Belarus would serve as a buffer, but that's a very difficult thing to achieve. Also good would be the ceding of Kaliningrad to Poland and Lithuania (historically, that region was a vassal of the Polish Crown). Perhaps in exchange for recognition of Russia's annexation of Crimea. Good luck with that, I guess. Ideally, the Central European states east of Germany can play the US, Germany/EU, and Russia off each other to guarantee that the region is free from hegemonic dominance. Historically until the late 18th century, Polish dominance guaranteed stability and peace in the region. As both historical heir and as the largest country of the block, it is important the Poland resume its historical and geopolitically necessary role if Poland and the other states represented in the Three Seas Initiative are to remain free and prosperous. The stability offered would also benefit European stability by creating a bulwark against both Western and Eastern imperial ambitions.

auganov 6y ago

Germany is not on the eastern flank of NATO, many of the troops being withdrawn will be relocated closer to Russia [0] . And again the move was spurred in part by Germany's pipeline with Russia - Nord Stream 2. Which clearly shows the Trump administration is taking stronger steps to punish NATO members which cooperate with Russia. > Trump administration has NOT been extraordinarily compliant to Russian demands is just ridiculous Yes, this is completely false. The Trump administration has been tougher on pretty much everything involving Russian interests. From Ukraine, Iran, Syria, sanctions on Russia, to yes strengthening the eastern flank of NATO. [0] https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Speeches/Speech/Article/2292081/us-european-command-force-posture-policy-press-conference-secretary-espers-open/ https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Speeches/Speech/Article/229... "The current EUCOM plan will reposition approximately 11,900 military personnel from Germany – from roughly 36,000 down to 24,000 – in a manner that will strengthen NATO, enhance the deterrence of Russia, and meet the other principles I set forth"

ceilingcorner 6y ago

> Polish defence minister says the US will deploy 1,000 soldiers in Poland to oversee forces on NATO's eastern flank. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/07/poland-deploy-1000-troops-eastern-border-200731084535564.html https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/07/poland-deploy-1000-tr... The article even uses the term "NATO's eastern flank."

foepys 6y ago
Get 12,000 soldiers home from Germany, deploy 1,000 in Poland and call it strengthening the eastern front. That math doesn't check out at all.
- ceilingcorner 6y ago
  1. Germany isn't on the Eastern Front. Poland actually borders Russia (the exclave on the Baltic.) 2. The US is in the process of building a military base in Poland. > In 2018, Poland proposed that the United States open a permanent military base within its country. The Polish government would finance around $2 Billion of the cost of hosting American forces, if the proposal was accepted by the United States. Poland has proposed either Bydgoszcz, or Toruń, as potential base locations.[18] Since 1999, Poland has sought closer military ties with the United States.[19] In June 2019, both sides agreed to send 1,000 U.S. troops to Poland.[20] In September 2019, six locations were determined to host approximately 4,500 of the U.S. military in Poland, including: Poznań, Drawsko Pomorskie, Strachowice, Łask, Powidz and Lubliniec. 3. Some of those troops will be moved from Germany to Poland. > On 24 June 2020, Trump said at a press conference with Duda that the United States plans to move some U.S. troops from Germany to Poland.[22][23] Trump said that "Poland is one of the few countries that are fulfilling their obligations under NATO — in particular, their monetary obligations — and they asked us if we would send some additional troops. ... I think [putting more US troops in Poland] sends a very strong signal to Russia." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poland–United_States_relations https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poland–United_States_relations Honestly, if you can't bother to do basic research about the situation, it's better to not comment on it.
  - bobthechef 6y ago
    Indeed. > 1. Germany isn't on the Eastern Front. Poland actually borders Russia (the exclave on the Baltic.) The Kaliningrad exclave is quite small, but it poses a real danger when the Suwalki Gap is taken into account. Given Belarus' friendly ties with Russia, there is only a small band of land that needs to be cut off to trap the Baltic states. It's important to secure that stretch. Ideally, Belarus would serve as a buffer, but that's a very difficult thing to achieve. Also good would be the ceding of Kaliningrad to Poland and Lithuania (historically, that region was a vassal of the Polish Crown). Perhaps in exchange for recognition of Russia's annexation of Crimea. Good luck with that, I guess. Ideally, the Central European states east of Germany can play the US, Germany/EU, and Russia off each other to guarantee that the region is free from hegemonic dominance. Historically until the late 18th century, Polish dominance guaranteed stability and peace in the region. As both historical heir and as the largest country of the block, it is important the Poland resume its historical and geopolitically necessary role if Poland and the other states represented in the Three Seas Initiative are to remain free and prosperous. The stability offered would also benefit European stability by creating a bulwark against both Western and Eastern imperial ambitions.