EU Considering Its Own Army and Nuclear Arsenal as US Withdraws

[Frodo]

Now we're seeing the beginnings of a remilitarized Europe, all thanks to Trump:

Fearing U.S. Withdrawal, Europe Considers Its Own Nuclear Deterrent

The Interpreter
By MAX FISHER
MARCH 6, 2017

BERLIN —

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E.U. Moves to Create Military Training Headquarters

By JAMES KANTER
MARCH 6, 2017

BRUSSELS —

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[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

I've long been in favor of the EU having more or less integrated Armed forces. If NATO goes dead, I simply see no other alternative.

Not sure whether I'd call the European nuclear problem as "unthinkable idea", though. It was suggested once or twice during the cold war it would be better to have a shared pool, instead of two countries having it separately.

[DavidB.]

If this works as a catalyst to take up our responsibilities and invest in our armed forces instead of cutting back on them, I'm all for it -- but I also think NATO should remain the only organization for actual defense operations. I don't want to see an EU mission in, say, Ukraine, and I fear we're getting closer to that point.

[Antonio the Sixth]

I guess something good might come out of T***p's foreign policy after all.

[ApatheticAustrian]

If this works as a catalyst to take up our responsibilities and invest in our armed forces instead of cutting back on them, I'm all for it -- but I also think NATO should remain the only organization for actual defense operations. I don't want to see an EU mission in, say, Ukraine, and I fear we're getting closer to that point.

an early EU operation would have ended this war in an instant.
[/quote]

The EU would need to already have a military force or at least integrated system. That's the whole point.

[nicholas.slaydon]

I guess something good might come out of T***p's foreign policy after all.

[Stranger in a strange land]

This isn't such a bad idea, Trump or no.

[Lachi]

A stocked army, yes, but nuclear weapons? That's going a bit far.

[Beet]

Militarization of any form is bad.

[ApatheticAustrian]

Militarization of any form is bad.

it's not militarization it's making a common army out of 25+ smaller ones.

the main reason for militarization is the russian risk.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Militarization of any form is bad.

As a reasonable measure of defense in case of the United States taking their ball home?

Even with the NATO intact, we can't just depend on U.S. presence indefinitively.

[Beet]

Militarization of any form is bad.

As a reasonable measure of defense in case of the United States taking their ball home?

Even with the NATO intact, we can't just depend on U.S. presence indefinitively.

It may be necessary now, but it's still unfortunate.

[ApatheticAustrian]

It may be necessary now, but it's still unfortunate.

i totally agree but only a very small amount of nations is as lucky as the US to be mostly surrounded by friends or enemies much too small to be any kind of risk anyway.

[Tender Branson]

Kalwejt, why did you delete my post ?

You are a moderator and not a dictator like Erdogan.

Also behave like a mod then (correcting my post and not deleting it).

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Kalwejt, why did you delete my post ?

You are a moderator and not a dictator like Erdogan.

Also behave like a mod then (correcting my post and not deleting it).

Personal insults against other posters are not to be tolerated.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

The present situation is a bit like the US without a military, but each state having it's own force, with much more contrasts than current national guards.

[Tender Branson]

Kalwejt, why did you delete my post ?

You are a moderator and not a dictator like Erdogan.

Also behave like a mod then (correcting my post and not deleting it).

Personal insults against other posters are not to be tolerated.

There was no personal insult though, I was just making some joke about ApatheticAustrian's user name ... I could also call him "AppalachianAustrian" etc.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Kalwejt, why did you delete my post ?

You are a moderator and not a dictator like Erdogan.

Also behave like a mod then (correcting my post and not deleting it).

Personal insults against other posters are not to be tolerated.

There was no personal insult though, I was just making some joke about ApatheticAustrian's user name ... I could also call him "AppalachianAustrian" etc.

Calling other posters "autistic", whether jokingly or fully intentionally, is not the same as the latter. I don't expect you to understand why it's wrong, just don't do this.

[dead0man]

Wouldn't it be easier and cheaper to just meet your NATO financial goals?

[Hnv1]

Aye for a European military, no need for the nukes though

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

I don't really see any justification for Germany to abandon civilian nuclear energy while simultaneously being ok with nuclear missiles (ignoring the NATO missile sharing).

But a lot of this is sensible. Unify the Coast Guards, pool money for collective procurement, cut capital expenditure on extraneous spending etc.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Wouldn't it be easier and cheaper to just meet your NATO financial goals?

No, and no.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

About time.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

I just hope it won't get stuck like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Defence_Community

[dead0man]

Wouldn't it be easier and cheaper to just meet your NATO financial goals?

No, and no.

well that settles that I guess....good luck!