Good article which clearly articulates the contradictions weakening NATO. I agree with the idea of the US and EU drifting apart. Conservatives here in Canada, like their counterparts in Great Britain, have always envisioned the silly idea of an Atlantic alliance based on the English speaking countries of US, Canada and UK excluding the rest of Europe and the Americas. As I understand this was one of the main visions of Brexit. As the US empire retracts I can see this idea getting more traction. However with Trump trying to beat Canada into submission this may put that plan in jeopardy. Personally I would hope the next Prime Minister here will maintain and maybe increase ties with Europe, and establish ties with countries like Mexico and Brazil which now have very impressive leaders. Some astute commentators have remarked that throughout his business and political careers Trump has many times mistakenly believed he has leverage when doesn’t,
Down here in New Zealand Aotearoa, we’ve been listening to murmurings about an Indo-Pacific NATO - a kind of bolster to AUKUS. We’re already part of the IP4 - Indo-Pacific 4 alongside Australia, South Korea and Japan. This is all about conflict with China of course. But I have to say it’s gone quiet. Maybe they’re all preoccupied, and they’ll leave us alone.
I can only pray that this comes to pass as fast as possible🙏.
I had a bit of disagreement on saying that Norway had taken a "hard" stance against Israel. While some of our messaging might be seen as "hard" compared to some of the other European countries happily torching international law by inviting Netanyahu.
However, our actions against Israel are another story entirely. Norway is still, to this date, Europe's biggest investor in illegal settlements in the West Bank (worth 19,5$ billion) through our pension fund. And "Kongsberg Gruppen", owned 50% by the Norwegian state, is still selling weapons to Israel's F35 through the US because then they are technically not breaking Norwegian law.
The hypocrisy between words and actions in this country is astounding.
One of my three university degrees is in International Relations. During the days of my studies, never did I imagine that the days of NATO might well be numbered, as would appear to be the case based on the particulars shared in your report.
Nation-states tend to go to war to gain new territory and increase their global power, not to lose copious amounts of money and lives better invested in more productive activities for their invariably nefarious, grasping leaders.
The orange Mussolini’s grab for Greenland would make sense from a strategic perspective. Considering that ruling by the ICJ have no teeth, it is possible he may well move forward with this plan unopposed by all but Denmark and Greenland.
NATO was formed as a defensive alliance for the Cold War and many commentators think it will disintegrate, but not after flailing about fomenting wars around the globe. Commentators like George Szamuely argue NATO became an aggressive, offensive alliance as it was taken over by globalist neo-liberals under Bill Clinton's administration; the example the bombing of Serbia.
Right now, these incompetent clowns are ratcheting up warmongering under incompetent ghouls such as Stoltenberg and now Rutte.
Your conjecture on the globe is sound enough; Oceania, Eurasia and Eastasia were the three spheres Orwell suggested would form in 1984.
I would argue that Huxley's prediction of technocratic dystopia is also a strong possibility and arguably well entrenched in the US now; and further that Wells notion of of people forming into two different species: Morlocks and Eloi is also not far-fetched.
We had the unipolar moment, an unprecedented chance at making a peaceful world, and we blew it. Deliberately. We will not get another chance, and whoever is next up on the global hegemon stage will not be kind to us as a result.
Good article which clearly articulates the contradictions weakening NATO. I agree with the idea of the US and EU drifting apart. Conservatives here in Canada, like their counterparts in Great Britain, have always envisioned the silly idea of an Atlantic alliance based on the English speaking countries of US, Canada and UK excluding the rest of Europe and the Americas. As I understand this was one of the main visions of Brexit. As the US empire retracts I can see this idea getting more traction. However with Trump trying to beat Canada into submission this may put that plan in jeopardy. Personally I would hope the next Prime Minister here will maintain and maybe increase ties with Europe, and establish ties with countries like Mexico and Brazil which now have very impressive leaders. Some astute commentators have remarked that throughout his business and political careers Trump has many times mistakenly believed he has leverage when doesn’t,
As the kids say, nato is 'cooked'
Just read this on the train back home, thank you for the long read declan
Down here in New Zealand Aotearoa, we’ve been listening to murmurings about an Indo-Pacific NATO - a kind of bolster to AUKUS. We’re already part of the IP4 - Indo-Pacific 4 alongside Australia, South Korea and Japan. This is all about conflict with China of course. But I have to say it’s gone quiet. Maybe they’re all preoccupied, and they’ll leave us alone.
I can only pray that this comes to pass as fast as possible🙏.
I had a bit of disagreement on saying that Norway had taken a "hard" stance against Israel. While some of our messaging might be seen as "hard" compared to some of the other European countries happily torching international law by inviting Netanyahu.
However, our actions against Israel are another story entirely. Norway is still, to this date, Europe's biggest investor in illegal settlements in the West Bank (worth 19,5$ billion) through our pension fund. And "Kongsberg Gruppen", owned 50% by the Norwegian state, is still selling weapons to Israel's F35 through the US because then they are technically not breaking Norwegian law.
The hypocrisy between words and actions in this country is astounding.
We are very much still the USA's little dog.
this is news to me! I need to investigate. Thank you, have a good day!
One of my three university degrees is in International Relations. During the days of my studies, never did I imagine that the days of NATO might well be numbered, as would appear to be the case based on the particulars shared in your report.
Nation-states tend to go to war to gain new territory and increase their global power, not to lose copious amounts of money and lives better invested in more productive activities for their invariably nefarious, grasping leaders.
The orange Mussolini’s grab for Greenland would make sense from a strategic perspective. Considering that ruling by the ICJ have no teeth, it is possible he may well move forward with this plan unopposed by all but Denmark and Greenland.
Great article. Nato was always nefarious with the stay behind networks and ever expanding goals.
Good and thoughtful piece, Declan. Thanks.
NATO was formed as a defensive alliance for the Cold War and many commentators think it will disintegrate, but not after flailing about fomenting wars around the globe. Commentators like George Szamuely argue NATO became an aggressive, offensive alliance as it was taken over by globalist neo-liberals under Bill Clinton's administration; the example the bombing of Serbia.
Right now, these incompetent clowns are ratcheting up warmongering under incompetent ghouls such as Stoltenberg and now Rutte.
Your conjecture on the globe is sound enough; Oceania, Eurasia and Eastasia were the three spheres Orwell suggested would form in 1984.
I would argue that Huxley's prediction of technocratic dystopia is also a strong possibility and arguably well entrenched in the US now; and further that Wells notion of of people forming into two different species: Morlocks and Eloi is also not far-fetched.
Cheers again for your writing.
Very interesting
We had the unipolar moment, an unprecedented chance at making a peaceful world, and we blew it. Deliberately. We will not get another chance, and whoever is next up on the global hegemon stage will not be kind to us as a result.