Do you want Germany to raise military expenses?

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Japan had Zero interest in building an empire until the Americans came along.

If you mean Perry's expedition, than you are undoubtedly correct.

They very clearly wanted an Empire in the 1930s+ and were pursuing it. Why Roosevelt thought he could embargo them without them attacking us I will never know for sure. Perhaps he believed the Navy's view of the efficacy of Plan Orange. Though that itself may well have been a product of racist underestimation as much as anything else. I have always suspected that Roosevelt believed he could force the Japanese to back off in China and that the Germans would provide the needed excuse for war themselves by sinking one of our "neutral" USN ships in the North Atlantic. I am virtually certain that Roosevelt wanted to take care of Germany first and without a Pacific war at all.

[Pannonian]

If you mean Perry's expedition, than you are undoubtedly correct.

They very clearly wanted an Empire in the 1930s+ and were pursuing it. Why Roosevelt thought he could embargo them without them attacking us I will never know for sure. Perhaps he believed the Navy's view of the efficacy of Plan Orange. Though that itself may well have been a product of racist underestimation as much as anything else. I have always suspected that Roosevelt believed he could force the Japanese to back off in China and that the Germans would provide the needed excuse for war themselves by sinking one of our "neutral" USN ships in the North Atlantic. I am virtually certain that Roosevelt wanted to take care of Germany first and without a Pacific war at all.

I was talking about the aircraft (hence the capitalisation of Zero). The Americans blew them out of the air. Prior to that, they ruled supreme in the theatre.

Of course, most of the actual empire building was done by the Army, but that fact doesn't allow me to play on your post.

[HopAlongBunny]

Angela Merkel seems to be preparing to rely less on the U.S. (and Britain) for European security.
So are we talking Germany resurgent or expanding E.U. commitments?

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-ge...-idUSKBN18O0JK

While it doesn't sound like she is looking at a short-term goal, just how far in the future is the shift?
It could just be diplomatic signaling; calling Trump's whinging.
Interesting

[Franconicus]

I think the message is that Germany and Europe cannot go on relying on old military and economic alliances alone. Brexit and Trump made it clear that Europe must rely on its own strength. Therefore I assume she is aiming a European Union that talks with one tongue and walks the talk. That means joined economic and military agenda.

[Strike For The South]

Europe can not afford a military nor is there a political will for a build up. This is nothing more than self pleasure by Merkel.

[Husar]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milita...European_Union

The EU already has a large army if one counts everything in it.
If that were merged into one command structure, redundancies could be flushed out, equipment could be more standardized to realize synergy effects and the EU could easily defend itself. Her rival in the national elections also wants to work towards this goal so Merkel is basically stealing his positions to weasel her way to the next election victory by stealing everybody else's positions as usual.

Merkel is completely without alternative, as usual.
Just wait, she will become first emperor of the ED in 50 years.

[Fragony]

Our enemies fight differently, mass-immigration is the weapon. Thx EU

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milita...European_Union

The EU already has a large army if one counts everything in it.
If that were merged into one command structure, redundancies could be flushed out, equipment could be more standardized to realize synergy effects and the EU could easily defend itself. Her rival in the national elections also wants to work towards this goal so Merkel is basically stealing his positions to weasel her way to the next election victory by stealing everybody else's positions as usual.

Merkel is completely without alternative, as usual.
Just wait, she will become first emperor of the ED in 50 years.

Yes, well the German army has already more-or-less eaten the Dutch one in terms of command and control.

I doubt there's much redundancy - rather I would say the EU lacks certain things it needs as a larger Great Power - too few Aircraft Carriers, for one.

It suits Merkel to propose unified European Defence, so long as Germany isn't paying for it.