this post was submitted on 05 Oct 2023
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[–] PP_BOY_@lemmy.world 85 points 1 year ago (3 children)
[–] MDZA@feddit.uk 41 points 1 year ago (4 children)

As a Brit, I agree too. Europe is incapable of defending an allied nation within our own continent from invasion. We need to do better.

The military capability of European nations have to improve so we can guarantee our own security and be a more equal partner in NATO rather than a junior partner to the US.

[–] wintermute_oregon@lemm.ee 22 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You run into the weird issue, what if America can’t or won’t help.

Right now everyone depends on America to defend them but we may not always be able too.

[–] AnarchoDakosaurus@toast.ooo 19 points 1 year ago (11 children)

The moment America cannot act as the unilateral head of NATO is the moment it collapses.

France, Germany, The U.K. and Turkey would then become the defacto " great" powers of Europe and the whole balance of power in the E.U. would be thrown off.

Not likely to happen for the time being, but if Trump somehow manages to get elected again the Europeans would be wise to consider their alternative options.

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[–] bouh@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

I agree. But there's so much to do for a EU defense... GB is aligned with the US. Germany and a few other countries are entirely trusting the US. Hungary would probably side with Russia at this point.

I wish the war kick-started eu defense better.

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[–] DahGangalang@infosec.pub 10 points 1 year ago (2 children)

As an American, I've mixed feelings.

On the one hand, I think I think Europe owning it's own defense would be a solid move to ensure it's own sovereignty and independence as a modern nation.....thing.

On the other hand, I fear this could lead to US - EU military rivalry. While not necessarily the strongest bond in the world, I do value the relatively positive relationship the US and EU have. I hope that bond is preserved and hope we can grow even closer over time.

[–] MiddleKnight@discuss.tchncs.de 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

nation…..thing

we prefer the term "sui generis geopolitical entity" ;)

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[–] c0mbatbag3l@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah, if we stopped being the world's police we might have tax money for something else.

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[–] magnetosphere@kbin.social 73 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (21 children)

As an American, I think my government has become WAY too inconsistent and unreliable. We might elect Trump again, ffs. America can’t be counted on to meet its NATO obligations anymore. Too many fascists are in positions of power and sympathize with Putin.

[–] cloud@lazysoci.al 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

As a human being i think you have become incosistent and unreliable too. Lean history, see what's happening around you, think with your own brain.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Gladio

[–] magnetosphere@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

That implies you considered me consistent and reliable in the past. I’m flattered.

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[–] zephyreks@lemmy.ml 36 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Europe shouldn't let it's home-grown defence industries languish in the name of strategic cohesion. Europe has no domestic competition to the F-35, no cohesive military procurement strategy that rewards European businesses, and no mechanism to avoid the shitshow of being entirely dependent on US defence contractors for maintenance of key defence infrastructure.

[–] Donjuanme@lemmy.world 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It also doesn't have access to nearly as many raw materials as the United States does.

I wish we'd all just calm down with the military spending, but I also understand when dealing with the USA it's probably safer to not rely on then(us) to keep their(our) word

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[–] davel@lemmy.ml 7 points 1 year ago (8 children)

I hope they have no competition to the F-35 because everyone’s been saying it’s a piece of shit for the last fifteen years.

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[–] Tankiedesantski@hexbear.net 15 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Hey this is the guy who said that all Russian citizens living abroad should be surveiled and cited Japanese internment camps as precedent.

“I can be sorry for these people, but at the same time when we look back, when the Second World War started, all the Japanese population living in the United States were under a strict monitoring regime as well,” said the Czech president. “That’s simply a cost of war.”

He's probably not doing this in the interests of peace, he's probably doing it because he wants to launch a race war against the Mongolian horde and the US won't play ball.

[–] deft@ttrpg.network 6 points 1 year ago

The US loves killing brown people especially on behalf of other white people.

Are you even American? /s

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[–] Frogmanfromlake@hexbear.net 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

lmao there's always a rogue president who says this while the rest of the EU falls in line with Washington

[–] Gosplan14_the_Third@hexbear.net 19 points 1 year ago

He's not advocating Europe separate from the US, but become a military superpower in its own right by having as large a military as the US. I am sure both Petr Pavel and Joe Biden agree on enforcing the "rules-based international order".

To think that the EU suddenly wants to ditch the US because they see them as a burden/dangerous is wishful thinking. In fact the only countries willing to do that might be France, because the local bourgeois don't like to be limited by the US on pursuing their imperialist interests in Africa.

[–] principalkohoutek@hexbear.net 11 points 1 year ago

Idk anything about this fella, but that snow white hair and beard look fuckin fresh

[–] Zimmy@lemm.ee 10 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Lots of euro leaders have said the same over the years. The question as always is, what will you do about it?

[–] Chariotwheel@kbin.social 8 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Do nothing and blame Germany

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[–] variaatio@sopuli.xyz 3 points 1 year ago

Well PESCO did get created. Denmark dropped their opt out from CSDP. Stuff like this moves slowly, specially upon there not being single hegemonic leader saying "We do this" and everyone else answering "Yes boss". EU is herding catch and it makes everything move slowly.

[–] ProxyTheAwesome@hexbear.net 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yet on the other hand, he says EU should hurry up at expanding and integrate Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and others. He's pro-NATO, he just thinks the EU should have more of the muscle. Either that or he's just entirely full of shit.

[–] matengor@lemmy.ml 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yet on the other hand, he says EU should hurry up at expanding and integrate Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and others.

I don't understand how expanding EU is contradicting the headline. Care to explain?

[–] ProxyTheAwesome@hexbear.net 11 points 1 year ago

EU/NATO are vassals and part of the same empire as America/UK. Basically, they're all the same side. My point is that if you're against NATO imperialism, this guy isn't who you're looking for. He just wants to be a bit less junior of a partner in the empire.

Jokes on him and the EU though, they're even more junior than ever before and getting further vassalized and de-industrialized and dependent on the USA.

[–] spiderkle@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Petr is Captain-Europa you can't change my mind. This absolute chad of a man was an army GENERAL and also worked as Chairman of the NATO Military committee. He is now president of a European country and it looks like he's the right person for the job to coordinate and implement the new defence-strategy for the whole EU. We need more people like him.

[–] AnarchoDakosaurus@toast.ooo 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

He's also called for more blanket surveillance of Russian passport holders in the West.

https://www.rferl.org/a/czech-president-ukraine-support-nato-summit/32460184.html

Becareful praising a strongman when he speaks against your enemies brashfully. Today he is your friend, tommorow you might find yourself amongst his list of enemies.

[–] c0mbatbag3l@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

Authoritarians are only ever on your side temporarily.

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