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No, NATO is absolutely the redline and even the smallest nato baltic countries usually have allied troops stationed there. To think NATO wouldn't defend a membe

No, NATO is absolutely the redline and even the smallest nato baltic countries usually have allied troops stationed there. To think NATO wouldn't defend a member state is completely unrealistic and that's one of the reasons this entire conflict started. If ukraine joins NATO it becomes untouchable, even for putin, hence why they were willing to support the donbass rebels and escalate to a war now. If putin was just going for the easiest target and didn't mind NATO, ukraine is hardly the weakest target in the area. Once you attack a NATO member you are almost automatically at war with all the members of the alliance and you'll probably have to face already present nato troops as soon as the war starts.

axg11 5y ago
I understand the theory of what you are saying, NATO as an alliance is focused around the "red line". However, in practise, will the US/UK/etc risk a nuclear war over Montenegro? Even today, with Biden and Boris in command, the answer in not clear. With a potential future anti-NATO Commander in Chief there is even more doubt.
r00fus 5y ago
Would you say this if Trump was still POTUS? I seriously wonder if the US didn't support NATO actions whether NATO would remain whole.
- mardifoufs 5y ago
  Yes, because he was still very actively supporting the countries bordering russia. He didn't like the structure of NATO but that's mostly because he wanted more involvememt from European countries, not less. I don't think any president would actually back off a nato member getting attacked.
int_19h 5y ago
This is the theory, but let's be honest: will Western politicians really risk a direct armed confrontation with Russia - when the latter almost openly threatens to escalate (hinting at WMD) if anyone intervenes - over, say, Latvia? Actually, that's not the right question, because Europe by itself doesn't have the military strength to escalate. So it'll be down to American politicians and American voters.
rdtsc 5y ago
> To think NATO wouldn't defend a member state is completely unrealistic and that's one of the reasons this entire conflict started. Depends how defending looks. I can see some drone strikes, some bombing runs, but the danger of it escalating to a nuclear war is would be high. I just don’t believe Americans would accept turning their cities to glass to save Lithuania. Now I understand, pretending they would, makes the deterrent work. But I hope nobody tries to call the bluff on that one.

axg11 5y ago

I understand the theory of what you are saying, NATO as an alliance is focused around the "red line". However, in practise, will the US/UK/etc risk a nuclear war over Montenegro? Even today, with Biden and Boris in command, the answer in not clear. With a potential future anti-NATO Commander in Chief there is even more doubt.

r00fus 5y ago

Would you say this if Trump was still POTUS? I seriously wonder if the US didn't support NATO actions whether NATO would remain whole.

mardifoufs 5y ago
Yes, because he was still very actively supporting the countries bordering russia. He didn't like the structure of NATO but that's mostly because he wanted more involvememt from European countries, not less. I don't think any president would actually back off a nato member getting attacked.

int_19h 5y ago

This is the theory, but let's be honest: will Western politicians really risk a direct armed confrontation with Russia - when the latter almost openly threatens to escalate (hinting at WMD) if anyone intervenes - over, say, Latvia? Actually, that's not the right question, because Europe by itself doesn't have the military strength to escalate. So it'll be down to American politicians and American voters.

rdtsc 5y ago

> To think NATO wouldn't defend a member state is completely unrealistic and that's one of the reasons this entire conflict started. Depends how defending looks. I can see some drone strikes, some bombing runs, but the danger of it escalating to a nuclear war is would be high. I just don’t believe Americans would accept turning their cities to glass to save Lithuania. Now I understand, pretending they would, makes the deterrent work. But I hope nobody tries to call the bluff on that one.