NATO during a Trump Presidency: Stay, Pay, or why don't you all just f-f-fade away?

[Hooahguy]

Maybe those three things above your post that distinguish him from all his predecessors?

I dont think you have been paying much attention. Post 9/11, the counter-terrorism bonds between the US and Russia were strengthened by intelligence sharing mainly. Obama cut down on NATO presence in Europe due to the sequester, even cancelled a missile defense shield plan in Central Europe that Russia opposed. I think you see it as NATO being the primary aggressor. I think its more about Putin keeping power through an "us versus them" mentality in Russia by constantly ensuring that the populace is mobilized against foreign threats, real or imagined. With the economy in Russia tanking (GDP growth in 2015 was -3.727%) Putin needs a distraction. He needed it in 1999 with the Second Chechen War, he needed it in 2008 with the war in Georgia, he needed it in 2014 with Ukraine, and when Ukraine wasnt going so hot he needed it in 2015 with his show of force in Syria. Dude just wants to keep power, thats why hes been castrating so many human rights groups by labeling them as foreign agents. Last month they labeled Memorial as a foreign agent, a group set up in 1989 to commemorate the victims of Stalinist terror. Dont get me wrong, there is blame to be had on both sides in this issue, but those who think that the Russians dont have a good amount of the blame are naive.

[AE Bravo]

I dont think you have been paying much attention. Post 9/11, the counter-terrorism bonds between the US and Russia were strengthened by intelligence sharing mainly. Obama cut down on NATO presence in Europe due to the sequester, even cancelled a missile defense shield plan in Central Europe that Russia opposed. I think you see it as NATO being the primary aggressor. I think its more about Putin keeping power through an "us versus them" mentality in Russia by constantly ensuring that the populace is mobilized against foreign threats, real or imagined. With the economy in Russia tanking (GDP growth in 2015 was -3.727%) Putin needs a distraction. He needed it in 1999 with the Second Chechen War, he needed it in 2008 with the war in Georgia, he needed it in 2014 with Ukraine, and when Ukraine wasnt going so hot he needed it in 2015 with his show of force in Syria. Dude just wants to keep power, thats why hes been castrating so many human rights groups by labeling them as foreign agents. Last month they labeled Memorial as a foreign agent, a group set up in 1989 to commemorate the victims of Stalinist terror. Dont get me wrong, there is blame to be had on both sides in this issue, but those who think that the Russians dont have a good amount of the blame are naive.

No it’s more that the US is overcommitting. Even if they pull back in some areas, Russia only spends about $65bn as opposed to the US’s $600bn. Russia cannot match the US in DoD contracts or even obtain the alliances the US has currently. With the economy in the US not even tanking, there is still an “us vs them” mentality that dictates its policies overseas. Nobody is neglecting Russia’s shadiness but the US has demonstrated imperial overstretch and failure as a world power time and time again. Naturally it’s the active world power that is subjected to most of the blame. Even with minor concessions these linchpins of American strategy pointed out are safe.

[Montmorency]

That can't change unless America declines to project beyond its coast.

That has never been an option in American strategy, not even during the 1760s.

[AE Bravo]

That can't change unless America declines to project beyond its coast.

That has never been an option in American strategy, not even during the 1760s.

You don't need to spend $600bn to project beyond the coast. Begs the question why China isn't demonized in the same manner when it spends about $200bn and projects its influence more than Russia does, with North Korea in its backyard.

[Montmorency]

Begs the question why China isn't demonized in the same manner when it spends about $200bn and projects its influence more than Russia does, with North Korea in its backyard.

It is. It is feared and mistrusted from Perth to Abadan.

[Brenus]

Hmm, thanks to Sarkolland's policy, France is now part of NATO. Hopefully, France will withdraw for an Alliance where a Commander in Chief doesn't see the problem to use nuclear weapons.
If Trump want other countries to participate, what he really means is he want "allies" to buy very expensive US material.
So I think that it could be good for each nations to take their own defence and pay for it.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Hmm, thanks to Sarkolland's policy, France is now part of NATO. Hopefully, France will withdraw for an Alliance where a Commander in Chief doesn't see the problem to use nuclear weapons.
If Trump want other countries to participate, what he really means is he want "allies" to buy very expensive US material.
So I think that it could be good for each nations to take their own defence and pay for it.

Sure, go back to pretending to to be part of NATO, ready to re-integrate 5 minutes before they start shooting at you.

For France not to be part of NATO is absurd, you have the same geopolitical concerns as the rest of us.

[Furunculus]

i love nato.

which is why i support trump circa Nov16: "collective defense requires trustworthy partners, pay your dues!"

2.0%ftw