When NATO was formed in the late 1940s it was to counter the threat of massed soviet armour rolling into Western Europe.
Though that was never a very realistic threat it is even less credible now. For example, if the population and GDP of Russia is compared with that of the NATO countries.
Russia’s population is 145 million. The combined population of the NATO counties is 952 million [or 510 million excluding the USA and Canada].
Russia’s GDP is less than that of Italy.
A Russian invasion of Western Europe would be like a poor child attacking a rich adult.
The Ukraine conflict has revealed something else. It is now much easier to defend than attack.
In 1914 barbed wire made it much harder to attack and easier to defend. It produced a stalemate on the Western Front in WW1. Then tanks came on the scene and increased the power of attack.
Now new technologies in the form of drones and anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles have enormously increased defensive capabilities and allowed a small and militarily weak country like the Ukraine to stalemate Russia.
If the Ukraine can stop Russia why do we need a military alliance alliance of 28 European and 2 North American countries? Why do we need the USA using NATO to meddle in European affairs? With current technologies Europe is more than capable of protecting itself.
IN 2019 NATO cost over one trillion US dollars to maintain. It is expensive and outdated. It is time for it to be drastically pruned.
NATO HQ. Value for money? |
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