Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Europe Basically Can’t Defend Itself if the U.S. Pulls Out of NATO
Slate via Yahoo ^ | February 27th, 2024 | Fred Kaplan

Posted on 02/27/2024 7:04:19 PM PST by Mariner

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-88 next last
To: Mariner

They can figure it out, although who are they going to fight? Muslim immigrants/invaders? GET ON IT.


21 posted on 02/27/2024 7:33:44 PM PST by Glad2bnuts (“And how we burned in the camps later, thinking: We should have set up ambushes...paraphrased)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mariner

What would they need carriers for? Missiles and drones make carriers sitting targets.


22 posted on 02/27/2024 7:35:51 PM PST by Glad2bnuts (“And how we burned in the camps later, thinking: We should have set up ambushes...paraphrased)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Revolutionary

They only want what is theirs, and the entire western world is against Russia, not the puny satellite called Ukraine.


23 posted on 02/27/2024 7:38:17 PM PST by Glad2bnuts (“And how we burned in the camps later, thinking: We should have set up ambushes...paraphrased)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Mariner

We’re not pulling out of NATO and Trump isn’t pulling us out of NATO.

But we have numbsculls playing into this anti Trump crap who may cost Trump the election.

Leaving NATO would be geopolitical insanity.


24 posted on 02/27/2024 7:38:49 PM PST by Williams (Stop Tolerating The Intolerant)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Right_Wing_Madman
NATO was always a sham, anyway. It was a defense welfare project that ultimately, hurt its receipients in the long term.

I don't know, the percentage of Europeans who speak Russian is at a record low, so I'd say it's worked pretty well in its desired goal of keeping the Russians contained, the recent unpleasantness in Ukraine notwithstanding.

25 posted on 02/27/2024 7:39:42 PM PST by Alter Kaker (Gravitation is a theory, not a fact. It should be approached with an open mind...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: DesertRhino
Then they all worked to start the war in Ukraine.

I must have missed that point where Ukraine invaded Russia.

26 posted on 02/27/2024 7:41:09 PM PST by Alter Kaker (Gravitation is a theory, not a fact. It should be approached with an open mind...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: tarator
Why do they need a carrier? They don’t have to project power around the globe. They just need to defend themselves against a hostile power on their own continent.

Why did the US deploy the Eisenhower and Ford to the Mediterranean when the Hamas-Israeli war broke out? One of those should have been a Euro carrier.

Europe's bad geography has been an issue for centuries. This is not a new problem.

27 posted on 02/27/2024 7:43:29 PM PST by Right_Wing_Madman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Mariner

Who said the US was pulling out of NATO?


28 posted on 02/27/2024 7:46:29 PM PST by yesthatjallen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mariner; AnotherUnixGeek
Europe can defend itself.

German industry is the key; but Germany wishes to resume trade with Russia as soon as possible . . . and does not wish to take steps that delay that goal.

NOTICE in the following table, where the bulk of original NATO members are, and Germany among them.

Sources:

https://www.airandspaceforces.com/nato-member-defense-spending-summit/

https://www.statista.com/chart/14636/defense-expenditures-of-nato-countries/

EXCERPTS:

In 2014, NATO was collectively spending $910 billion annually on defense, but in 2023, that figure is $1.1 trillion.

While U.S. defense spending has grown from $660 billion to $743 billion during that period, the defense spending of the rest of NATO has increased at a higher pace, from $250 billion in 2014 to $356 billion in 2023.

Some of that growth, however, was due to adding three new NATO members since 2017: Macedonia, Montenegro, and Finland.

Shares of Real GDP in 2023:

  • Poland 3.90
  • U.S. 3.49 (original member NATO)
  • Greece 3.01
  • Estonia 2.73
  • Lithuania 2.54
  • Slovak Republic 2.54
  • Finland 2.45
  • Romania 2.44
  • Hungary 2.43
  • Latvia 2.27
  • United Kingdom 2.07 (original member NATO)
  • France 1.90 (original member NATO)
  • Montenegro 1.87
  • North Macedonia 1.87
  • Bulgaria 1.84
  • Croatia 1.79
  • Albania 1.76
  • Netherlands 1.70 (original member NATO)
  • Norway 1.67 (original member NATO)
  • Denmark 1.65 (original member NATO)
  • Germany 1.57
  • Czech Republic 1.50
  • Portugal 1.48 (original member NATO)
  • Italy 1.46 (original member NATO)
  • Canada 1.38 (original member NATO)
  • Slovenia 1.35
  • Turkey 1.31
  • Spain 1.26
  • Belgium 1.13 (original member NATO)
  • Luxembourg 0.72 (original member NATO)

29 posted on 02/27/2024 7:49:20 PM PST by linMcHlp
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mariner

If the once great empires of Portugal, Spain, Britain, Holland, France, Germany, Italy (formerly Rome), and Lithuania-Poland can’t defend themselves then how can the relative youngster US pretend to?


30 posted on 02/27/2024 7:51:01 PM PST by who_would_fardels_bear (What is left around which to circle the wagons?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mariner

A treaty is a contract.
NATO is a contract.
Europe is in violation of the contract.
The contract is null and void.


31 posted on 02/27/2024 8:06:01 PM PST by joe fonebone (And the people said NO! The End)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: AnotherUnixGeek

Nailed it!!


32 posted on 02/27/2024 8:12:19 PM PST by ealgeone
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Mariner

Europe’s population is 2.25 times of the USA but we still have to wipe their butt.


33 posted on 02/27/2024 8:13:22 PM PST by citizen (Put all LBQTwhatever programming on a new subscription service: PERV-TThose look good)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mariner

They laughed at Trump when he warned them.


34 posted on 02/27/2024 8:25:39 PM PST by McGruff (Don't underestimate Joe's ability to f*** things up - Barack Obama)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mariner

Firstly, European countries should spend more, yes, 5% is a good number.

Secondly, remember that article 5 of NATO was invoked only once, by the USA. And NATO allies answered the call.

Withdrawing while those same allies are building up is just churlish.

Give the other NATO countries a strict dead, say 3 years, to shape up


35 posted on 02/27/2024 8:27:36 PM PST by Cronos (I identify as an ambulance, my pronounces are wee/woo)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mariner

36 posted on 02/27/2024 8:31:09 PM PST by Chode (there is no fall back position, there's no rally point, there is no LZ... we're on our own. #FJB)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mariner
If Europe is that weak, then EU countries shouldn't have given so much money and so much of their artillery and tanks to Ukraine nor gone out of its way to provoke Russia and keep the war in Ukraine going.
37 posted on 02/27/2024 8:33:41 PM PST by Kazan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ge0ffrey

We should get out of the NATO rat’s nest. We need to keep our money and weapons to defend ourselves;,


38 posted on 02/27/2024 8:33:50 PM PST by Veto! (FJB Sucks Rocks)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Revolutionary
Two years to take a third of little old Ukraine and NATO can’t handle them???

Russia is facing a military comparable to the one we faced in Vietnam, one that had eight years to fortify their positions and that has received tens of billions of dollars of weapons, ammo, missiles and tanks from the West.

The war in Ukraine is a NATO proxy war with Russia and NATO is getting its ass kicked.

Russia never had to be our enemy. But, if you consider Russia to the enemy, being in denial about their military capabilities is incredibly stupid.

39 posted on 02/27/2024 8:37:16 PM PST by Kazan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Mariner

Uncle Sugar is broke. So sorry.


40 posted on 02/27/2024 8:44:25 PM PST by Huskrrrr (Alinsky, you magnificent Bastard, I read your book!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-88 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson