Is NATO Obsolete? President Biden just met with Germany’s new Chancellor.
And we don’t know what you might expect from such a meeting, but we expected nothing but an effort to look like the two nations were on the same page.
But from the answers to the media’s questions. Moreover, that “page” does not seem to indicate agreement on much of anything beyond platitudes.
Olaf Sholtz, in the past, has been an advocate of closer German-Russian cooperation. And he has favored what he has called “a Real United States of Europe” centrally controlled. With one tax regime and citizenship, and with its own transnational army, independent of American influence.
And now, Germany is very concerned not to make an enemy of Russia. While keeping American money flowing that has subsidized Europe for more than 70 years.
One German journalist asked both leaders at the post meeting press conference:
(1) what the USA can do realistically to stop Nord Street II. And Biden stumbled, claiming he could stop it, but failing to say how.
(2) How under the Previous US Administration, the US produced an excess of Natural Gas. And promised to supply Germany with LPG. But now, after a cut in production mandated by Biden, the USA cannot supply anyone. Leaving Germany vulnerable to Russian supply, so how can Biden demand Germany sacrifice? Biden had no answer.
So, where does that leave NATO
Germany has never paid what it agreed to pay. Neither have any of the other members, other than the UK and Poland.
At their inception of NATO, a treaty was established that stated. And that member nations would pay 2% of GDP into NATO. To support the defense of Europe from what then was the Soviet threat.
It was stated that way so that the US could pay virtually everything. Furthermore, with the USA’s subsidy shrinking. As the other members rebuilt their economies as the result of the destruction of the war.
But even then, most of them, such as Germany, have never paid their promised share. NEVER.
Leaving the USA, 70 plus years later, still subsiding the whole enterprise.
Fair? No. Legal? No.
Donald Trump insisted that this picture change and that everyone does as they promised. One reason the Europeans opposed Trump and European based multinational companies actively opposed Trump in every way possible.
Now we see a situation in which Germany, with Europe backing them. Wants to buy oil and gas from Russia and is even opposing US pressure to help Ukraine resist Russian pressures.
Maybe it is time for the US to recognize 2 things: (1). That Europe does not see Russia as an adversary, other than to continue the flow of US money, and (2). That Europe wants to do business with Russia and cut the US out of it.
And maybe that means it is time to close the doors. Withdraw the troops, close the bases, and understand that NATO is done.
