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EU does not have a great track in terms providing security for its members. Nord Stream was pushed by Germany even though it was obvious that this would make Ge

EU does not have a great track in terms providing security for its members. Nord Stream was pushed by Germany even though it was obvious that this would make Germany depended on Russian gas. Germany killed the plan of common European gas purchase from diversified sources - they wanted to buy it alone, to sell it further and get even more economical advantage over other EU countries (because, unless you don't know, gas from Russia is a green energy, CO2 free). That's why Germany to the very last moment was opposing arms sale for Ukraine and until the 3rd day of the Russian invasion on Ukraine was opposing sanctions. Blinken was not getting off his plane for good three weeks while traveling to convince European partners from Italy, Germany, France, Hungary that Russia is a real danger and has to be stopped. Long time has to pass before Germany will be consider to be a trusted partner, their silent support for Russia was clear not only to Poland or Baltic countries - Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Romania, Moldavia, they all have seen what is happening and will think twice before trusting Germany. Nobody sane will undermine the role of NATO and USA/UK when it comes to European security, over my head I see US and UK spy planes and drones that are flying all days and nights over eastern Poland, providing intel for Ukrainian forces. No country in Europe is capable of pursuing large military operation, France stumbled over their own feet when trying to change ruler in Libya several years ago and France has the best army in continental Europe. Go figure that! They needed US support at the end. Another big problem is the pathetic state of German army, especially heavy component, luckily they have just decided to put significant amount of money on making Bundeswehr a real force since right now with its 300 tanks (three times less than Poland) it is a sad joke.

Ericson2314 5y ago
Yeah but I think the lack of an army supports this behavior. If German gas emboldens Russia, it should be German boys dying if Latvia is invaded.
- gytdev 5y ago
  don't play the blame game. If Latvia is invaded, all boys from NATO should come to play
KptMarchewa 5y ago
Germany and a lot of politicians in other countries just woke up from 30 year long dream that Russia is and can be normal country. In a few years a lot of what you're talking about will be thing of the past. >Another big problem is the pathetic state of German army, especially heavy component, luckily they have just decided to put significant amount of money on making Bundeswehr a real force since right now with its 300 tanks (three times less than Poland) it is a sad joke. Tanks seem to be more and more of a joke in a modern symmetrical conflict right now. I wish we didn't buy Abrams, but more jets and SAMs.
- mrep 5y ago
  > Tanks seem to be more and more of a joke in a modern symmetrical conflict right now. If you are suggesting that because of missiles, you should take a look at Trophy which can shoot the missiles down before they hit the tank. [0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trophy_(countermeasure) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trophy_(countermeasure)
  - wh4t3v3r 5y ago
    And yet you see all these tanks destroyed in Ukraine-Russian conflict.
    - mrep 5y ago
      Because they don't have that tech as it is currently only used by Israel, the U.S. and Germany.
petre 5y ago
They're also the ones refusing an outright ban on Russian gas and oil right now, because they're addicted to it. This is why Eastern Europe, Poland and the Baltics trust the US and UK, France but not Germany. President Trump was right to pressure them get off Russian gas, build an LPG terminal and increase their military spending to at least 2% of their GDP. Other NATO members complied, but not Germany. They are going to do it anyway now that Russia has invaded Ukraine. Both the ≥2% and the terminal.
beebmam 5y ago
This can change, and probably will now. Liberals want a peaceful, rules-governed world, like international law. When a country so flagrantly violates those rules with the consent of other large nations like China, and does an enormous amount of harm, extreme threat (or use) of force is the only valid response. EU militarization is near certain to happen. And hopefully much of Asia too. Taiwan needs a militarized Japan
- ironcurtain 5y ago
  Kosovo? Iraq? Libya International law? Trying putting all these into a single sentence. Unfortunately in the last 20 years West lost all claims for upholding “international law” or “rules”.
- raxxorrax 5y ago
  That is actually a very counter productive response. A likely one, but not a productive one.
pmoriarty 5y ago
"Nord Stream was pushed by Germany even though it was obvious that this would make Germany depended on Russian gas." Many held the view that a more interdependent world is a safer world. Without such interdependence, the West wouldn't have the ability to impose economic sanctions. If those sanctions wind up having the effect of shortening this war or lessening the likelihood of future war, then this view will be vindicated. If not, then we've got a very dark future ahead of us as military conflict (and possibly the end of the world as we know it) will become ever more likely.
- machiaweliczny 5y ago
  Yeah, more interdependent. That’s why they routed around Ukraine and Poland. Anyone with quarter of brain would know how it’s gonna end.
y4mi 5y ago
> That's why Germany to the very last moment was opposing arms sale for Ukraine and until the 3rd day of the Russian invasion on Ukraine was opposing sanctions. That's not a fact but pure speculation which I find very far fetched considering how pro Putin half of Germanys ministry was. I find it much more likely that they're simply paid off as most of them have already been proven to be corrupt with various scandals. Heck, the green party was on television shilling for Putin and how overblown the fear of war is on the weekend before the invasion.

Ericson2314 5y ago

Yeah but I think the lack of an army supports this behavior. If German gas emboldens Russia, it should be German boys dying if Latvia is invaded.

gytdev 5y ago
don't play the blame game. If Latvia is invaded, all boys from NATO should come to play

KptMarchewa 5y ago

Germany and a lot of politicians in other countries just woke up from 30 year long dream that Russia is and can be normal country. In a few years a lot of what you're talking about will be thing of the past. >Another big problem is the pathetic state of German army, especially heavy component, luckily they have just decided to put significant amount of money on making Bundeswehr a real force since right now with its 300 tanks (three times less than Poland) it is a sad joke. Tanks seem to be more and more of a joke in a modern symmetrical conflict right now. I wish we didn't buy Abrams, but more jets and SAMs.

mrep 5y ago
> Tanks seem to be more and more of a joke in a modern symmetrical conflict right now. If you are suggesting that because of missiles, you should take a look at Trophy which can shoot the missiles down before they hit the tank. [0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trophy_(countermeasure) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trophy_(countermeasure)
- wh4t3v3r 5y ago
  And yet you see all these tanks destroyed in Ukraine-Russian conflict.
  - mrep 5y ago
    Because they don't have that tech as it is currently only used by Israel, the U.S. and Germany.

petre 5y ago

They're also the ones refusing an outright ban on Russian gas and oil right now, because they're addicted to it. This is why Eastern Europe, Poland and the Baltics trust the US and UK, France but not Germany. President Trump was right to pressure them get off Russian gas, build an LPG terminal and increase their military spending to at least 2% of their GDP. Other NATO members complied, but not Germany. They are going to do it anyway now that Russia has invaded Ukraine. Both the ≥2% and the terminal.

beebmam 5y ago

This can change, and probably will now. Liberals want a peaceful, rules-governed world, like international law. When a country so flagrantly violates those rules with the consent of other large nations like China, and does an enormous amount of harm, extreme threat (or use) of force is the only valid response. EU militarization is near certain to happen. And hopefully much of Asia too. Taiwan needs a militarized Japan

ironcurtain 5y ago
Kosovo? Iraq? Libya International law? Trying putting all these into a single sentence. Unfortunately in the last 20 years West lost all claims for upholding “international law” or “rules”.
raxxorrax 5y ago
That is actually a very counter productive response. A likely one, but not a productive one.

pmoriarty 5y ago

"Nord Stream was pushed by Germany even though it was obvious that this would make Germany depended on Russian gas." Many held the view that a more interdependent world is a safer world. Without such interdependence, the West wouldn't have the ability to impose economic sanctions. If those sanctions wind up having the effect of shortening this war or lessening the likelihood of future war, then this view will be vindicated. If not, then we've got a very dark future ahead of us as military conflict (and possibly the end of the world as we know it) will become ever more likely.

machiaweliczny 5y ago
Yeah, more interdependent. That’s why they routed around Ukraine and Poland. Anyone with quarter of brain would know how it’s gonna end.

y4mi 5y ago

> That's why Germany to the very last moment was opposing arms sale for Ukraine and until the 3rd day of the Russian invasion on Ukraine was opposing sanctions. That's not a fact but pure speculation which I find very far fetched considering how pro Putin half of Germanys ministry was. I find it much more likely that they're simply paid off as most of them have already been proven to be corrupt with various scandals. Heck, the green party was on television shilling for Putin and how overblown the fear of war is on the weekend before the invasion.