Putin says Germany remains 'occupied'

"The matter is that European politicians have said themselves publicly that after World War II, Germany was never a fully sovereign state," Russian news agencies quoted Putin as telling state Rossiya-1 TV channel.

True, it wasn't. It took the collapse of the Soviet Union to become a sovereign state. Something Putin has intimate knowledge of, considering he was stationed in East Germany when the collapse happened. He remains bitter about that to this day.

It must really annoy Putin that NATO is so unified. If Trump had be reelected, it wouldn't be.

Putin says Germany remains 'occupied'

It’s a desperate man that tries to create angst between allies.

"The Soviet Union at one point withdrew its forces and ended what amounted to an occupation of the country. But that, as is well known, was not the case with the Americans. They continue to occupy Germany."

Wow, what a bold statement to make! TRUE but if Russia were to be trusted ZERO American troops will remain on European soil.

Of course it sounds absurd. But his comment is not intended for people who can think rationally.

Putin looks like he really needs some Exlax.

He looks like a shrivelled, unloved and friendless man.

Has anybody watched The Money Masters in You TUBE? Or read War is a Racket by General Butler? Lots of truth in them.

Putin says anything he wants without truth or fact. Like the west attacked Russia and it is only defending itself.

No, an "occupation" is what Russia is doing in eastern Ukraine where their military, or what is left of it, directly rules the territory. And, you know, uses that power to murder people, deport children en masse and generally does whatever it can to terrorize the civilian population into submission.

American bases in Germany are not that. The American military is in Germany with the agreement of the legitimate German government, which actually wants them there. The American military has zero role in the administration or politics of the German state and is prohibited by law from doing so. American soldiers are subject to German law and can be arrested by German police for any illegal acts they commit in Germany.

Yes, in the bazzaro world of Putin, East Germany should have subsumed the West when the wall came down.

With Germany sending tanks and cutoff from Nord Stream 2, it is looking a damn sight more independent than do-nothing France and Italy.

some posters who are upset by the comment are some of the same ones that claim "Japan is still occupied".

Other countries feelings towards the U.S. and its military bases . . .

Please don't make us choose, but please DON'T LEAVE!!!

How much longer can Putin continue losing in Ukraine before the Russian generals say 'Enough!' and stage a coup against him?

Judging by Putin's constipated expression in the photo and what he's been saying the U.S. occupying Germany, maybe that's exactly what he's thinking.

Germany believes in NATO. Their closest military partner is France. France and Germany share some diplomatic "missions" around the world, that's how close they are. They've even discussed merging their military.

BTW, 23 US military sites have been turned over to Germany since 2010. Whether to have US military stationed inside a country is a difficult choice. Nothing will have the same level of deterrent as having a sizeable US military presence in a country. There's something about US blood being spilled that gets Americans behind protecting our friends.

Occupation implies that the govt does whatever the military says. That isn't how the US military works anywhere in the world. Putin knows this. He spent time as a KGB agent in West Germany. The US isn't going to round up locals and shoot them, unlike how Russia treats their "friends".

The Germany situation seems very similar to the Japanese one...

They are in Germany now massively occupied, that’s true, but surely not by but together with the few remaining US military forces.

Putin is very confused. You see when Russia has troops in another country, Russia rules that country, quietly through coercion. So naturally Putin thinks the US does the very same thing. But it doesnt, but there in lays Putin's confusion. Once Russia gets troops into another nation they dont leave at anyone's request except Russia's. US troops stationed in other nations can be asked to leave, and they do. Philippines downgraded US military ties and the US turned over bases and pulled out troops as requested. Now they have changed their minds and want more US troops stationed in Philippines, and as a good friend the US obliges.

Putin's state of mental confusion is no doubt being brought about by his invasion forced being unable to further invade Ukraine and looking down the barrel of a Ukraine counter offensive that will regain occupied territory and further embarrass Russian military abilities.

"Putin says Germany remains 'occupied'"

Clearly, Mr Putin is a master of the OBVIOUS. Nihon, also, shares that plight of being unable to shake off a pernicious and dangerous parasite who has no concern for the welfare of its vassals and uses them as it sees fit.

"The pipelines were intended to bring Russian gas to Germany, though since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine a year ago Berlin has taken steps to reduce its reliance on Russian hydrocarbons."

The 'steps' have been to import hydrocarbon fuels from the U.S. at GOUGE prices while such large exports of our resources raises the price of everything in America. Blowing up the pipelines wasn't 'sabotage', it was just typical U.S. style 'marketing'.

The Germany situation seems very similar to the Japanese one...

Yeah, they are both doing fine.

Putin told the interviewer that the blasts were carried out on a "state level" and dismissed as "complete nonsense" suggestions that an autonomous pro-Ukraine group was responsible.

Yes, it is now obvious that the US was behind the blowing up of the Nord Stream pipelines. Seymour Hersh described very well how they did it.

The pipelines were intended to bring Russian gas to Germany, though since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine a year ago Berlin has taken steps to reduce its reliance on Russian hydrocarbons.

Yeah, they can buy it from the US for over 4X the price.

Putin is 100% correct, Germany remains occupied by the US.

rainydayToday  12:56 pm JST

Yeah, they are both doing fine.

the Okinawans disagree……

the Okinawans disagree……

Yup, most Okinawans don't like having so many bases in their prefecture. That is not the same as Okinawa not doing fine.

Let PUTAin talk as much as he wants to.

He never understodd and never will understand the facts.

As for me, never felt occupid when I lived in West-Germany.

And we were glad that we had the US Forces - since they ensured a good night's sleep!

(Besides lots of employment possibilities!).

Now, that maybe contrary to that what former East-Germans experienced.

Lol, Putin fans are so happy to finally have someone "smart" on their side, that they ignore the fact that the person has made numerous reports that were proven false.

Yes, it is now obvious that the US was behind the blowing up of the Nord Stream pipelines. Seymour Hersh described very well how they did it.

Putin's not confused folks, he's occupying a very consequential global role, intentionally "fanning" or should I say weaponizing inflation. He understands the fragility of the global economy, some might refer to it as 'proxy' economic terrorism.

As I wrote above, this 'occupation' doctrine far more than just a few thousand foreign troops living outside their home country. He also understands occupying this global economic 'inflation terror' role is his most likely path to victory, but it'll be called a 'settlement' naturally!

Like Mr. Putin or not, nobody in their right mind considers him confused, Think the President of China makes his way to Moscow to visit a confused man? I so, then maybe you're confused?

well, you ruined the moment

Let's not confuse objectivity with bias. World's littered with confused emotional people occupying illogical agendas.

We need rational logical effective solutions in order to solve BIG problems. That means reality actually matters, not your hopes, dreams and fantasies.

Means stop de-humanizing and try to find a compromise NOBODY really likes, then you're getting close!

Let's called it "OCCUPY PEACE"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Or "OCCUPY AVOID WWIII"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gotta jump!

Understand it's easier to stereotype, that's human nature. Let's try to 'occupy' something bigger than such human nature/see above!

rainydayToday  02:18 pm JST

the Okinawans disagree……

Yup, most Okinawans don't like having so many bases in their prefecture. That is not the same as Okinawa not doing fine.

HUH??? I think you may want to reread your own statement there champ….wow just wow!

agent orange contamination…PFOS contamination the list goes on and the US doesn’t even have to clean its own mess up…yeh they are all good….NoT!

The US military operates 750 overseas bases/lily pads in 80 countries with more being continuously built and others they supposedly pulled out of.

There's no need to be jealous. It's called not being a murderous thugocracy.

Heh, nothing but ther mutterings of a tiny and power crazed nutter with delusions of living in the past.

As they say, half-truths are the best lies.

Russia shouldn't talk - they created the Iron Curtain for more than a dozen countries against their will for decades. Russia also has a big naval base in Syria - is Russia occupying Syria?

The US presence in Germany with Germans' blessing. From the October 2022 Pew Research poll:

"The U.S.-German Relationship Remains Strong - People in both countries remain committed to transatlantic security"

https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2022/10/17/us-german-relationship-remains-strong/

A joint study released by the Körber Stiftung and the PEW Research Center has shown Germans are increasingly positive about their country's relationship with the United States.

According to the survey, carried out late last year and earlier this year, more Germans now say that the relationship with the United States is good (82%) when compared with 2017. While 81% of American respondents believe they have a good relationship with Germany.

"Germans became substantially more optimistic about bilateral relations in 2021, after leadership changes in both countries," the researchers said.

Most Americans and Germans continue to see each other as partners on protecting European security, and publics in each country are willing to support using military action to protect themselves and their allies. Majorities in each country also see the other as a good partner on dealing with Russia. People in both countries also think that Europe is not doing enough to become independent from Russian energy.

Germans are also much more likely to say they want a close relationship with the U.S. rather than Russia or China. Among Germans, the most critical foreign policy partner named is the U.S. at 36%, followed closely by France at 32%. Far behind those two traditional allies are Russia (3%), the European Union (2%), and China, Turkey and Poland (each 1%).

82% of Germans and 81% of Americans approve

Heck, majority of Germans now are even in favor of hosting US nukes on their lands. Now that's truly trusting a friend

"German public changes mind on presence of US nukes, with 52% now in favor"

https://www.stripes.com/theaters/europe/2022-06-17/more-support-nuclear-weapons-6372237.html

For the first time, a majority of respondents in a recent survey supported maintaining U.S. nuclear weapons in Germany, with some favoring the modernization and expansion of those munitions, German national and international news service Tagesschau reported earlier this month.

Just over half of poll respondents, 52%, expressed support for keeping the weapons in Germany. And of those, 40% said the status quo should remain, while 12% said the munitions should be modernized and augmented, according to the survey.

Meanwhile, 39% said the weapons should be withdrawn.

Clay

Putin's not confused folks, he's occupying a very consequential global role, intentionally "fanning" or should I say weaponizing inflation. He understands the fragility of the global economy, some might refer to it as 'proxy' economic terrorism.

Not sure if you've seen the devastating effect of the Russian economy: sanctions and Putin's war effort?

Don't be confused. Putin isn't ruining the world economy, he's ruining his own economy.

HUH??? I think you may want to reread your own statement there champ….wow just wow!

Wow, just wow, champ. Ever been to Okinawa? Its fine. As is the rest of Japan.

Russian occupied areas? Not so fine.

agent orange contamination…PFOS contamination the list goes on and the US doesn’t even have to clean its own mess up…yeh they are all good….NoT!

YUp, champ, the US military made a mess back in the 60s and yup, it should clean it up. Good point, champ.

I didn’t realize you Putin apologists were such committed environmentalists, champ, given the environmental devastation he is unleashing across Ukraine which you are cheerleading (not to mention Russia itself where they do stuff that makes agent orange in Okinawa look tame in comparison).

Every time the guy opens his mouth it’s comedy gold! Never seen a better standup comedian.

Heck, majority of Germans now are even in favor of hosting US nukes on their lands. Now that's truly trusting a friend

There have been US nuclear weapons, basically B-61 gravity bombs, at sites in Germany for decades. In time of war the Luftwaffe, along with the Dutch and Italian air forces would be issued US nuclear weapons from stocks in Europe to use.

Well...given the fact that regardless of the US military presence in Okinawa that China continues to enter the waters of the senkaku every couple days doesn't make the okinawans real comfortable does it.

Way better than Chinese soldiers marching through Naha.

Heck, majority of Germans now are even in favor of hosting US nukes on their lands. Now that's truly trusting a friend

There have been US nuclear weapons, basically B-61 gravity bombs, at sites in Germany for decades.

Yes, and now the German people are in favor of it

That's not always been the case

Putin is an expert on "occupations". He's been trying to occupy Ukraine since 2014 against the will of Ukrainians. In those occupied areas, they've outlawed school being taught in Ukrainian. Only Russian can be used. Lots of other freedoms (like the freedom to live) have been removed.

Trying to compare US military bases in Germany or Japan to what Russia is doing in Ukraine is foolish.