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To: ChicagoConservative27

Nope-

Despite all the talk of a Russian threat and war, nations like Germany, Hungary, Austria, Italy know the truth and they have no interest in paying more. Maybe a little bit (~10-20%), but nothing even close to 3% which would a doubling for Spain.

The ones that are paying over 2% or even 3% are those that have colonial interests in Africa, Asia and South America, specifically France and the UK. Outside of NATO, they have their own interests which they need to be able to fight for.

In fact, since the wars begin over 2 years ago, those nations not paying their minimum contractual NATO requirement, STILL have not increased their spending to at least the minimum 2%.

Behind closed doors, no one believes in this Russian threat, because it is simply not there. It’s empirically, measurably, i.e. “factually” not a reality. The threat being sold to the public is a Cold War era threat, a boogieman that ceased to exist in 1991 with the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Only months apart, you had the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact also in 1991. There is no Warsaw Pact or Soviet threat. There is merely a Russia, with 1/3 the military manpower they had in the Soviet era, whom we have been kicking in the balls for years.

Hungary, Italy, Spain... have zero interest in spending their money on our wars. Now, that’s not how CNN is going to explain it, but that’s what it’s really about.


8 posted on 03/11/2024 12:06:42 PM PDT by Red6
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To: Red6

2023 top 10 NATO countries in defense expenditures as a % of GDP are, in order of said %:

Poland, US, Greece, Estonia, Lithuania, Finland, Romania, Hungary(!), Latvia, UK (2.07%)

Poland and the Baltics are high (so to speak) spenders because they have colonial interests in Africa, etc.?

OTOH, France is only 1.9%.

Generally, the countries low on the list have buffer countries between them and Russia. Greece being an exception (high, at 3.0%), but they have Turkey to worry about. Turkey conversely is low, but is poor per capita and has a very large population to provide it’s vey large military manpower. Russia would TRULY be fools to invade Turkey.

A nice combo of truths, partial truths and nonsense you posted there. What other drivel do you have up your sleeve?


69 posted on 03/12/2024 11:39:22 AM PDT by Paul R. (Bin Laden wanted Obama killed so the incompetent VP, Biden, would become President!)
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