4 ms·

All this talk about NATO still being an active entity in the protection of Europe is dangerous and hopelessly naïve. As long as Trump is president, I don't thi

by akie 6y ago

All this talk about NATO still being an active entity in the protection of Europe is dangerous and hopelessly naïve. As long as Trump is president, I don't think we need to have any illusions as to which side he would chose in a hypothetical armed conflict between the EU and Russia (he would pick no side). EU politicians should wake up and smell the coffee, and invest in an EU army before it's too late. We really (desperately) need strategic independence from the US and other foreign powers. The US in particular has been an unpredictable, unreliable, and untrustworthy partner in the past two decades or so (e.g. Iran deal, Paris climate accords, Iraq war, EU-US trade wars, ...) EDIT: Stop downvoting me and tell me instead where I'm wrong.

DFHippie 6y ago
> As long as Trump is president So until January 21st.
parsimo2010 6y ago
> EU politicians should wake up and smell the coffee, and invest in an EU army before it’s too late They could, but at least in the short term it appears to be cheaper to let the US spend the money on their military and still get the benefits, even factoring some lost trade to China. It would take many $123mm lithography machines to make up for the billions they would need to create a standing army. That trade off will change, but everything hinges on the “before it’s too late” part of your argument, which you can be assured that virtually no democratically elected politician will get right, since they are looking at <10 years by nature of political campaigns.
Shivetya 6y ago
Considering the previous Administration did little more than hashtag diplomacy in regards to Russia's take over Crimea and their conflict with Ukraine I do not understand why the EU hasn't moved on as it is. Trump could have been leveraged as a great excuse to finally do so. However it really comes down to money, the EU is fine with the current situation as long as it doesn't cost more money because no economy is in great shape right now.
User23 6y ago
If the Russians actually wanted to invade Europe they'd stir up some pointless local unrest and then just send a few million Russian refugees to collect welfare in Germany. Why even bother with the tanks?

by akie 6y ago

DFHippie 6y ago

> As long as Trump is president So until January 21st.

parsimo2010 6y ago

> EU politicians should wake up and smell the coffee, and invest in an EU army before it’s too late They could, but at least in the short term it appears to be cheaper to let the US spend the money on their military and still get the benefits, even factoring some lost trade to China. It would take many $123mm lithography machines to make up for the billions they would need to create a standing army. That trade off will change, but everything hinges on the “before it’s too late” part of your argument, which you can be assured that virtually no democratically elected politician will get right, since they are looking at <10 years by nature of political campaigns.

Shivetya 6y ago

Considering the previous Administration did little more than hashtag diplomacy in regards to Russia's take over Crimea and their conflict with Ukraine I do not understand why the EU hasn't moved on as it is. Trump could have been leveraged as a great excuse to finally do so. However it really comes down to money, the EU is fine with the current situation as long as it doesn't cost more money because no economy is in great shape right now.

User23 6y ago

If the Russians actually wanted to invade Europe they'd stir up some pointless local unrest and then just send a few million Russian refugees to collect welfare in Germany. Why even bother with the tanks?