“ the West, their defender”
If “the West”, a/k/a the US military, is their defender then they have already ceased to exist as an autonomous entity.
That’s my position, but many here disagree.
We have 2 carrier groups in the Med for them.(or Iran depending on direction)
I’m sure the Japanese would be suorised to learn they don’t exist as an ‘automonous entity’ or South Koreans, or Germans eyc etc etc. They all rely on the American security umbrella
Is there a problem with that?