International [NATO News] What Sweden brings to NATO as its Newest Member

[lecter]

I love how every time trump,says something ridiculously stupid the nitwits come out to try to defend it.

Who needs a college education or knowledge when you got a big fucking mouth, no morals and no shame.

Trump graduated from an Ivey League University.

 

[Hankooks]

The American citizens are probably the 2nd strongest armed force in the world. The licensed hunters alone could wipe out Europe.

 

[Arkain2K]

The US is the hegemon and is projecting its power all over the world. It is basically paying the imperial premium.

Sure, Trump can revoke security guarantees for European NATO countries. And sure, that will increase military spending there. Only it will also be the end of NATO and the American empire.

OR the European members of NATO, especially the wealthy countries like Germany and France, could finally meet NATO's 2% defense spending target like a responsible member, Europe can finally become an ally/partner to the U.S instead of a protectorate, and NATO can finally once again function like an Alliance, the way it was intended to be.

At least the Canadian posters in this thread feels a measure of shame that their government would now rather piss money away instead of upholding their pledged NATO commitments. It's disappointing that I don't see that tone at all in your post, as if the German people actually think the repeated failure to pay your fair share, a fair share that everyone in the club agreed to upon joining, is actually okay.

Well, it is NOT okay, and Obama tried to politely remind the freeloaders in Europe for 8 long years to no effect. If Trump has to do something drastic just to get the deadbeats to meet the bare minimum membership requirement, so be it.

 

[NelmarksGhost]

Now that we're best friends with Russia why do we need NATO at all? Why do we need such a huge military for that matter? Who's going to attack us?

 

[44nutman]

Why are Greece spending so much? Historic fear of the turks and nationalistic nature? Turkey's not gonna attack Greece, nor anyone else.

Greece is broke. They bought 5 Glocks and it put them in 2nd place

 

[Supereem]

Why are Greece spending so much? Historic fear of the turks and nationalistic nature? Turkey's not gonna attack Greece, nor anyone else.

When Turkish jets break the sound barrier over your village every other day, invade Cyprus and talk of reclaiming parts of the Aegean, it is a necessity. Not to mention the Italians tried to reclaim The Ionian islands less than a lifetime ago.

Who would aid Greece in such a conflict? Germany?

 

[Canada23]

Well my country's Military is a bit lack luster. We should at least be at 2% or leave NATO

But on the other hand that money can be invested in education and stuff

 

[Ruprecht]

Well... it's your empire to dissolve.

 

[Prutfis]

Denmark already spends more than enough. Should spend less and participate less in stupid wars. We were already one of the very few countries with the balls to send troops to Helmand and as a result were at no 1 for soldiers killed pr capita for a while. Fuck that.

Using China and Russia as boogey men against western Europe is pretty lol worthy.

 

[WrestlingJudo]

But why the need for NATO? Putin is BFFs with Trump.

 

[Egelo]

Well my country's Military is a bit lack luster. We should at least be at 2% or leave NATO

But on the other hand that money can be invested in education and stuff

Canadistan has enough leftist fools as it is.

Military jobs are great way to give work to out of work youth.

 

[JDragon]

OR the European members of NATO, especially the wealthy countries like Germany and France, could finally meet NATO's 2% defense spending target like a responsible member, Europe can finally become an ally/partner to the U.S instead of a protectorate, and NATO can finally once again function like an Alliance, the way it was intended to be.

At least the Canadian posters in this thread feels a measure of shame that their government would now rather piss money away instead of upholding their pledged NATO commitments. It's disappointing that I don't see that tone at all in your post, as if the German people actually think the repeated failure to pay your fair share, a fair share that everyone in the club agreed to upon joining, is actually okay.

Well, it is NOT okay, and Obama tried to politely remind the freeloaders in Europe for 8 long years to no effect. If Trump has to do something drastic just to get the deadbeats to meet the bare minimum membership requirement, so be it.

Well... it's your empire to dissolve.

Ruprecht got it right. I am not saying we should not spend more on our military. What I am saying is that the fact that the US spends so much on its military is the cost of upholding an Empire and projecting power and influence everywhere in the world. Trump seems not to give too many fucks about that, so demanding that NATO members pay more seems like a good idea from his point of view. The thing is that if the US does not remain firm in its commitment, European NATO states will begin questioning what the alliance is worth to begin with.

Read this piece by SWP, a German think tank known to be close to the government:

NATO's Two Percent Illusion

And how could you not admit that article has a great point regarding inefficiency after this?!

In my opinion, demanding certain equipment and combat readiness capabilities would be way more helpful than this number. That, however, again necessitates a discussion what kind of alliance (and against whom) NATO wants to be in this day and age.

 

[Ultrashogun]

OR the European members of NATO, especially the wealthy countries like Germany and France, could finally meet NATO's 2% defense spending target like a responsible member, Europe can finally become an ally/partner to the U.S instead of a protectorate, and NATO can finally once again function like an Alliance, the way it was intended to be.

At least the Canadian posters in this thread feels a measure of shame that their government would now rather piss money away instead of upholding their pledged NATO commitments. It's disappointing that I don't see that tone at all in your post, as if the German people actually think the repeated failure to pay your fair share, a fair share that everyone in the club agreed to upon joining, is actually okay.

Well, it is NOT okay, and Obama tried to politely remind the freeloaders in Europe for 8 long years to no effect. If Trump has to do something drastic just to get the deadbeats to meet the bare minimum membership requirement, so be it.

I am German and I totally agree with your sentiment. European nations need to become sufficient for defense. As it is now, not only are we dependent for defense but we also cannot be offensively active, like we should be in north africa for example.

The problem however is, that our politicians are kleptocrats. It doesnt even matter how much we spend, if we spent 100% of GDP we still wouldnt have a well equiped force.

Just check out all the recent scandals in the German armed forces

 

[Egelo]

Just check out all the recent scandals in the German armed forces

Ohh just what kind of sick twisted porn were they filming in their barracks ? lol. What are their issues/scandals ?

 

[SouthoftheAndes]

The US is the hegemon and is projecting its power all over the world. It is basically paying the imperial premium.

Greece has a ridiculously expensive military given that the country is broke.

Estonia and Poland fear Russia.

Sure, Trump can revoke security guarantees for European NATO countries. And sure, that will increase military spending there. Only it will also be the end of NATO and the American empire.

I don't care. And I'll be honest I hate most western europeans and most western European states.

Free loading sacks of shit and hypocrites. This mooching off NATO pisses me off.

also, I could give a shit less if worthless false created countries like Estonia are "afraid". Why don't you Fuckers pay for them?

Also, where is @Thames to defend his country's weak garbage?

Considering Canada is currently under a budget deficit, I oppose any spending increase on NATO. It's an obsolete dinosaur anyway.

Good the get the fuck out then.

 

[SouthoftheAndes]

Well... it's your empire to dissolve.

Good. The American empire is painted in blood and cost us trillions and thousands and thousands of lives. And it only enriches the elite 1%.

Denmark already spends more than enough. Should spend less and participate less in stupid wars. We were already one of the very few countries with the balls to send troops to Helmand and as a result were at no 1 for soldiers killed pr capita for a while. Fuck that.

Using China and Russia as boogey men against western Europe is pretty lol worthy.

I don't give a damn. Our "empire" has only cost us the lives of thousands of soldiers, trillions of dollars, and only enriched the elite 1%.

Also since when is it a good thing to have an empire? Especially when we do not have direct control or ownership over other lands?

 

[SammyPops]

Can't we just send Maple Syrup and French Canadian strippers directly to the US for its protection?

The US has played global super power since WW2 and that is the cost.

But, I do believe a lot of those NATO countries, including Canada, should increase defence spending.

 

[KnightTemplar]

as a canadian - one that sees money pissed away in refugee support, arts, aboriginal payments and other ridiculous spending, this is shameful shit.

As a Brit, I feel your pain: we only hit the 2% mark because we moved the goal posts and include the budget for our intelligence and security services as part of our, "military spending".

 

[Gunny]

Nice to see Canada stepping out of our shadow.

Yep. And it's really fun when Canadian members of this forum lecture us on what we should learn from their govt

 

[2DUM2TAP]

There are many of us who are quite ashamed of our lack of contribution.

Why? What does being part of NATO do for us exactly? Are we at risk of invasion or attack.... no. We only spend to be able to come to the aid of other countries that are.