NATO leaders are descending on Washington. Here's what to know

The US was the last NATO member that needed Article 5 of the treaty on 9/11.

NATO is not obsolete. In fact it is more significant and relevant than ever.

Putin most certainly doesn't consider NATO to be obsolete.

NATO is our best defence against the Russian menace. It must stay strong.

NATO would only be obsolete if it was replaced by a new European force.

NATO is only a deterrent against Russia and Russian controlled authoritarian govts. Where ever Russian forces show up, there needs to be a NATO contingent to make the Russians think again, before invading, yet another country.

They've already invaded Georgia and Ukraine. Both aren't NATO members. I have no doubt that Russia would have invaded Poland, if it wasn't a NATO member. Clearly the Fins decided the same - and have joined NATO. This is all because Putin wants to put the USSR back together. Ukraine remembers what it was like being under Russia. It sucked. So does Poland. Belarus knows, but they have a leader who can't leave office if he wants to stay alive ... until he runs to Russia. He won't retire peacefully in Belarus, that is certain.

As for Biden, he actually listens to advisors. He doesn't say they are lying. He doesn't fire smart people who disagree with some warped stance. As long as Biden is breathing, he is better than the other option. Heck, even if he dies - before the election - hide it and I'll still vote for him, gladly. Anyone, ANYONE, dead or alive, is better than Trump for America and the world.

bass4funkToday  07:26 am JST

NATO is Obsolete .

Time for the U.S. to pullout.

Thankfully Congress has ensured that the know-nothings don't have that as an option.

The Russian economy is eating about 6% just to pay out required money to injured and killed Russians from their folly in Ukraine.

Based on open source estimates from the governments of France and the United Kingdom as of May 2024, the Russians have likely taken around 400,000 casualties, with over 100,000 of those dead. Simple math shows that one-time payments would equate to 900 billion rubles for wounded personnel and at least 1.4 trillion for families of the dead, 2.3 trillion rubles total. This equates to 6 percent of the 2024 budget, a truly staggering amount that will continue to climb.

Ref: https://warontherocks.com/2024/07/wounded-veterans-wounded-economy-the-personnel-costs-of-russias-war/ - Personnel Costs of Russia’s War

>

bass4funkToday  07:53 am JST

One thing they definitely will talk about behind closed doors is this:

*NATO's air defense equipment in Kyiv and in places around the country suffered an embarrassing failure over the last few days. Russian air units got the better of them, inflicted huge losses on western supplied systems and other targets, with their own missiles going errant. *

Complete disaster

https://hir.harvard.edu/empty-meetings-and-broken-promises-how-nato-is-failing-to-do-its-job/

And rings truer than ever today.

Your first year student is saying NATO needs a more robust response to Russia and that was written prior to Putin's War. Do you read the things you are posting?

Russian destruction of a Ukrainian children's cancer hospital. UN human rights chief Volker Türk “deplored” the attack which severely damaged the intensive care, surgical, and oncology wards of Ukraine's largest children's referral hospital.

"Congress has approved legislation that would prevent any president from withdrawing the United States from NATO without approval from the Senate or an Act of Congress. "

JJEToday  09:13 am JST

Zelensky made the main photo and, of course, he will be at the meeting.

Interesting fact: on the night of July 8th, when explosions thundered all over Ukraine in the rear areas, Zelensky left Ukraine for Poland a few hours before the raids started.

Always important to note that every single non-military facility targeted is a war crime.

So if the Republicans retake the Senate and it looks like that could be a real possibility, they would pull back or limit aid.

What "aid" are you referring to?

JJEToday  08:28 am JST

*Membership is highly unlikely while the conflict rages. However, the allies plan to present Ukraine with a “bridge” to membership that would further lay out next steps.*

Highly unlikely means impossible. Highly unlikely also applies to the circumstances required for Kyiv to be eligible for NATO membership, which is to win the war hands-down, pushing the Russians back to 1991 borders - which also means impossible.

Any sensible person knows this is never going to happen now that Kyiv regime forces have/are being ground down, daily incremental gains made with the complete initiative held by RFAF and the vast mobilization of their economy/society to a war footing.

All of that is to say Ukraine will have access to everything in the NATO arsenal.

Moreover, Moscow has made plain that a truncated Ukraine rump state will be fully neutral and will never be permitted to join NATO. Kremlin will never allow it.

Thankfully Moscow cannot afford the demands it makes.

This is actually the root cause of the conflict.

I thought it was the nazis, or the language law, or the shelling, or (insert reason of the day here). Putin, like any unhinged individual, is unable to explain what the demands of Ukraine are.

This 'bridge' is likely to be an obstacle to peace and an invitation for larger Russian gains.

I am all in favor of additional expenditure of Russian forces.

itsonlyrocknrollToday  12:09 pm JST

The EU has 3x the population of Russia and is wealthier. Than only thing preventing them from turning Russia back on their own is a lack of unity, which is understandable.

EU member states will be left with the huge bill/cost to rebuild Ukraine for decades to come.

Better Euros than dead and wounded soldiers like Russia has to deal with along with permanent sanctions.

itsonlyrocknrollToday  01:59 pm JST

No country is an island. Even your figure of 75 trillion is only about three years of US GDP. Most Russians aren't going to want to go into mining or oil drilling. Meanwhile, the disastrous war in Ukraine is driving away talent.

Putin Russia is at a crossroads, its huge natural resources could ultimately force EU/UK into capitulation forcing Ukraine into a form of compromise for the very reasons you outline.

Not as long as they can tap into the huge resources of the US, Canada, and Norway, among others.

Russian government is not remotely politically beholden to such policies, neither is China or Indian. 

Then China and India are going to be in a very bad place when their water source, the Himalayas, goes completely dry.

bass4funkToday  02:30 pm JST

"Congress has approved legislation that would prevent any president from withdrawing the United States from NATO without approval from the Senate or an Act of Congress. "

So if the Republicans retake the Senate and it looks like that could be a real possibility, they would pull back or limit aid.

That's not the same as withdrawing from NATO, but even for Ukraine aid, not too many Republicans are as eager to grab their ankles as you are.

*Republicans in Congress

bass4funk

The US does not give aid to NATO. It makes its defense budget and pays a part of the $2 billion administration fee.

The US aid to Ukraine has nothing to do with NATO.

I listened to Bidens NATO speech which went off without problems. Biden surprises NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

No European army will ever in the foreseeable future match NATO, simply no collective spine/backbone, the political unity/will to stand up to President Putin, a force that would overrun western Europe/ EU within weeks when tactical battlefield nuclear weapons are deployed.

All will appease such aggression.

Only the US sheer arsenal/depth of strike capability could repel such an onslaught. And the willingness to use such force.

Germany would not even contemplate supplying long range missiles, let alone accepting the risk of all out war

Sooner or later Ukraine will runout of young fighting men, this war is being fought on Ukraine soil.

Putin is biding his time, slowly but surely dismantling the Ukraine essential infrastructure. Schools, Hospitals, its rail network, it energy supply, its economy.

EU member states will be left with the huge bill/cost to rebuild Ukraine for decades to come.

Hamstrung by its members states self interests, its energy insecurities.

TaiwanIsNotChina,

No argument or debate on the valid points you raise. Putin is a ruthless dictator.

However there is no escape from EU/UK future economic costs of a carbon neutral/net zero/zero emissions ideology, although all should viewed independent of each other.

Russian government is not remotely politically beholden to such policies, neither is China or Indian. .

Putin Russia is at a crossroads, its huge natural resources could ultimately force EU/UK into capitulation forcing Ukraine into a form of compromise for the very reasons you outline.

As of 2021, Russia held natural resources amounting to an estimated total value of 75 trillion U.S. dollars. This figure includes the value of Russia's many valuable natural resources, which includes coal, oil, natural gas, gold, timber, and rare earth metals, among others. ..

Leading countries worldwide based on natural resource value as of 2021

https://www.statista.com/statistics/748223/leading-countries-based-on-natural-resource-value/#:~:text=As%20of%202021%2C%20Russia%20held,rare%20earth%20metals%2C%20among%20others.

Biden and the US people have been a saviour for Ukraine.

Biden was transfixed to his teleprompter. He managed to at least sound stateman like.

There are no victors in war only cenotaphs to remember the fallen.

Certainly, Russia has no shortage of foreign companies willing to provide the investment to assist with third parties to mine and drill.

Turkey, India, China amongst other, Germany spent billons on Nord Stream pipe lines.

Hungary and old soviet block countries are dependent on Russian energy

The EU’s continued dependency on Russian gas could jeopardize its foreign policy goals

https://www.chathamhouse.org/2024/06/eus-continued-dependency-russian-gas-could-jeopardize-its-foreign-policy-goals

NATO was and still is ill equipped in Europe to fully support Ukraine.

Ukraine will not be joining NATO or EU, at least in my lifetime.

There will be offers of a faint hope, a hint a whisper, all will come to nothing.

White right wing politically do not have no future,when Black and other minority,will determine who will rule America in the near future

Yeah, that comment didn’t have any racist connotation overtones whatsoever…

Europe is totally reliant on the belief that treaty based laws, the threats of sanctions, on the dependence of rules based structures will prevent the use of force.

That hissing and booing from a toothless EU parliament will deter Putin.

The Government of China, countries such as India/Iran will hug despot dictators for fear that arms/the gas and oil will stop.

EU will accept terms surrender.

"Congress has approved legislation that would prevent any president from withdrawing the United States from NATO without approval from the Senate or an Act of Congress. "

So if the Republicans retake the Senate and it looks like that could be a real possibility, they would pull back or limit aid.

Bass4,White right wing politically do not have no future,when Black and other minority,will determine who will rule America in the near future

"Congress has approved legislation that would prevent any president from withdrawing the United States from NATO without approval from the Senate or an Act of Congress. "

Both Ukraine and NATO. I hope that we can leave the organization one day and soon.

That's not the same as withdrawing from NATO, but even for Ukraine aid, not too many Republicans are as eager to grab their ankles as you are.

Trust me, if you want to call me or any other American first conservative a coward, I can sleep very well, so....

Trash like Orban and other European leaders should not be allowed on American soil,spouting their White spiteful supremacy

Thankfully Congress has ensured that the know-nothings don't have that as an option.

Thankfully most of the establishment in the House are gone, so it makes Trump’s mission a lot easier and even more so if they can retake the Senate back, these RINO’s continue to lose. The future looks bright.

Your first year student is saying NATO needs a more robust response to Russia and that was written prior to Putin's War. Do you read the things you are posting?

Yes, but I think you don’t.

Membership is highly unlikely while the conflict rages. However, the allies plan to present Ukraine with a “bridge” to membership that would further lay out next steps.

Highly unlikely means impossible. Highly unlikely also applies to the circumstances required for Kyiv to be eligible for NATO membership, which is to win the war hands-down, pushing the Russians back to 1991 borders - which also means impossible.

Any sensible person knows this is never going to happen now that Kyiv regime forces have/are being ground down, daily incremental gains made with the complete initiative held by RFAF and the vast mobilization of their economy/society to a war footing.

Moreover, Moscow has made plain that a truncated Ukraine rump state will be fully neutral and will never be permitted to join NATO. Kremlin will never allow it.

This is actually the root cause of the conflict. This 'bridge' is likely to be an obstacle to peace and an invitation for larger Russian gains.

NATO is hurt by Biden. Lot of entities are disadvantaged by Biden, and the number is growing.

There is deep uncertainty over President Joe Biden’s ability to beat his predecessor, NATO skeptic Donald Trump, in November to lead the most powerful member of the alliance.

*June 27  09:43 am JSTPosted in: Can Biden perform and what will Trump do? Key questions ahead of high-stakes presidential debate  See in context*

Biden is going to drop out. They know he can’t win and will have someone else. Can’t imagine keeping Biden.

*-6** ( +3 / -9 )*

I predicted and posted the above pre-debate. After the debate, it’s even more telling. Biden is gone.

It’s not about Biden and Trump. Having Biden is not going to help with elected representatives’ elections.

The Democrats are throwing Biden under the bus,

Zelensky made the main photo and, of course, he will be at the meeting.

Interesting fact: on the night of July 8th, when explosions thundered all over Ukraine in the rear areas, Zelensky left Ukraine for Poland a few hours before the raids started.

One may think this is coincidence, but he has never actually been in Kyiv during missile strikes and always traditionally leaves the country when strikes are imminent (massing of strategic aviation is not hard to detect).

NATO is a defensive alliance, and if so, defend yourself, they will soon come for you. And if NATO is a military alliance, then you are expected to take decisive steps that would put you in an awkward position. So it’s better to end your existence yourself in the name of peace and tranquility on earth. Trump knows what he's doing, Biden go on vacation

NATO is Obsolete .

NATO is Obsolete .

Time for the U.S. to pullout.

NATO is a defensive alliance, and if so, defend yourself, they will soon come for you. And if NATO is a military alliance, then you are expected to take decisive steps that would put you in an awkward position. So it’s better to end your existence yourself in the name of peace and tranquility on earth. Trump knows what he's doing, Biden go on vacation

I couldn’t agree more.

One thing they definitely will talk about behind closed doors is this:

NATO's air defense equipment in Kyiv and in places around the country suffered an embarrassing failure over the last few days. Russian air units got the better of them, inflicted huge losses on western supplied systems and other targets, with their own missiles going errant.

Complete disaster.

One thing they definitely will talk about behind closed doors is this:

NATO's air defense equipment in Kyiv and in places around the country suffered an embarrassing failure over the last few days. Russian air units got the better of them, inflicted huge losses on western supplied systems and other targets, with their own missiles going errant. 

Complete disaster

https://hir.harvard.edu/empty-meetings-and-broken-promises-how-nato-is-failing-to-do-its-job/

And rings truer than ever today.