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How Trump urging Russia to invade 'delinquent' NATO members distorts how the alliance works

22 Comments
By VANESSA GERA

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22 Comments

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Like everything else, Trump thinks NATO is an organization he can scam and sue.

9 ( +13 / -4 )

Trump and his MAGA supporters have no idea how NATO functions.

13 ( +16 / -3 )

The left is in total meltdown and panicking about a supposed imminent Russian takeover of Europe.

Schrödinger's Russia and the algo-farmed alt-right cannot even organize its rhetoric.

Former KGB apparatchik Putin wants a resurgence of the USSR.

But he is opposed by the "left".

They fear Russia, organized upon Neo-Russian Orthodox authoritarian lines will take over "socialist" "cultural Marxist" Europe.

Unfortunately the farrago the globalist corporate funded alt-right have constructed finds traction in many Western nations plagued by neo-liberal corporatism.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

What a waste. In an ideal world, that 2% of GDP would go towards things which benefit humans such as alternative energy.

I've lived long enough to see the collapse of the Soviet Union and hope to live long enough to see Russia reform to an extent to which it, too, can join NATO. That would be problem solved.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Setting the record straight

De-bunking Russian disinformation on NATO

NATO is not at war with Russia. We do not seek confrontation with Russia. NATO supports Ukraine in its right to self-defence, as enshrined in the UN Charter. In response to Russia's aggressive actions, we continue to strengthen our deterrence and defence to make sure there is no room for misunderstanding that NATO is ready to protect and defend every Ally.

NATO is a defensive Alliance. Our core task is to keep our nations safe. At the Vilnius Summit, Allies reaffirmed their iron-clad commitment to defend every inch of Allied territory at all times. We will continue to protect our one billion people, and safeguard freedom and democracy, in accordance with Article 5 of the Washington Treaty.

https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/115204.htm

10 ( +13 / -3 )

Putin will continue to squeeze his oligarchs to continue funding Trump's business wheezes - the banks don't want to do it because he is a serial business loser - now he has got the signal that Trump is onside. Still, the cult won't notice he is selling them out.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Trump and his MAGA supporters have no idea how NATO functions.

We do, we just don't like and want to support it.

-13 ( +3 / -16 )

It's more media TRUMP gas-lighting, that Trump LIKES!

Trump's just seeking to draw attention to the fact that so many NATO members are not living up to their 2% GDP target, freeloading, including Germany, Italy, France etc.!

For Trump, Membership benefits come with a price, so he's correctly drawing attention to NATO issue that helps him politically = American's don't like NATO free loaders.

-10 ( +3 / -13 )

Trump's comment on Saturday represented the latest instance in which the former president seemed to side with an authoritarian state over America's democratic allies.

No, President Trump's comment shows that he sides with AMERICA.

-14 ( +1 / -15 )

zibalaToday 12:05 pm JST

Trump's comment on Saturday represented the latest instance in which the former president seemed to side with an authoritarian state over America's democratic allies.

No, President Trump's comment shows that he sides with AMERICA.

Only for the ignorant that think that breaking up NATO improves American national security.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Even if the US were to leave NATO the other members would remain because of the need for European security.

If the US left NATO and closed all the 800 overseas bases it could halve its military size and budget. Wouldn't need to have 11 carriers. It wouldn't need any.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

NATO is not a defensive alliance. Serbia, Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria never attacked a member state. What a whopper of a lie.

It's a hostile, offensive, invading alliance and the rump state left-over of Ukraine will never be permitted to join.

-11 ( +1 / -12 )

We do not seek confrontation with Russia.

"We" as in the UK? Why would you anyway?

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

If the US left NATO and closed all the 800 overseas bases it could halve its military size and budget. Wouldn't need to have 11 carriers. It wouldn't need any.

It would also lose its great influence with its friends and allies throughout the world. It would soon become completely introspective and end up much less relevant in the world.

NATO is not a defensive alliance. Serbia, Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria never attacked a member state. What a whopper of a lie.

Ill say, your whopper of a lie is obvious to all. NATO is purely defensive. They assist any and all members who get attacked. They do not assist if a member attacks others. That in no way limits the actions of member states to take any necessary actions, like anti piracy etc.

You confuse individual members actions and label them NATO actions. They have nothing to do with NATO and you know it.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Everyone understands NATO has lost its way, swept up by the US, as their globalist destabilization junior partner.

NATO's track-record of late not an accident, and why so many in Europe increasingly question NATO's fundamental good. Most in Europe want peace and stability after all, as do most in US. It's US globalist elites and US military industrial complex that has other ideas.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

Trump seeks to align US military and NATO with desires of MOST people in US and Europe, non-aggression and non- destabilization, but rather strictly defensive.

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

NATO has never attacked another country, unlike a large one I will not mention here......its not Russia. And Trump whining on about some nations not paying their bills, is a great one, coming from a person famous for not paying his own.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Taken scraped from neighbouring "Poland, France and Germany vow to make Europe stronger as fears grow over Russia and Trump" thread....

“There is no reason why we should be so clearly militarily weaker than Russia, and therefore increasing production and intensifying our cooperation are absolutely indisputable priorities,” Tusk said in arguing for the European Union to become “a military power” in its own right.

It is this statement that fails to fully realise the task at hand.

Continuous EU member state across the board defence budget cut have taken there toll.

The US defence industry is decades in the making, it research and development capability is a wonder to behold.

There simply isn't the political will, to match such determination and skills base in Europe.

This is the harsh reality lost on France and Germany, that meeting will some how produce overnight the security guarantees without the hard work.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Late breaking news!!!

Car bumper stickers proliferating in red states:

TRUMP/PUTIN 2024

Trump has selected his vice presidential running mate for 2024. He will help Putin become a naturalized citizen and change the laws to allow Putin to be the vice president of the United States. He has also tapped Rudy Giuliani to be Secretary of State. Tommy Tuberville was asked to be Secretary of Defense.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Only for the ignorant that think that breaking up NATO improves American national security

I call it smart.

If the US left NATO and closed all the 800 overseas bases it could halve its military size and budget.

NO, just redeploy the forces throughout Asia

Wouldn't need to have 11 carriers. It wouldn't need any.

I beg to differ especially with China around the corner.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

bass4funk

Only for the ignorant that think that breaking up NATO improves American national security

> I call it smart.

> If the US left NATO and closed all the 800 overseas bases it could halve its military size and budget.

NO, just redeploy the forces throughout Asia

You are saying to close European US military bases, including the very important ones in the UK, and move the troops to Asia. That would require permission from Asian countries.

Wouldn't need to have 11 carriers. It wouldn't need any.

I beg to differ especially with China around the corner.

China or Russia will never make any direct attack on the US. What are the 11 carriers for?

3 ( +5 / -2 )

You are saying to close European US military bases, including the very important ones in the UK, and move the troops to Asia. That would require permission from Asian countries.

I know

China or Russia will never make any direct attack on the US.

I'm not so sure about that, in my life and how I grew up my philosophy is, why take a chance?

What are the 11 carriers for?

I already covered that.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

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