NATO bursting at the seams
The fact that the external policy The USA is uncompromising in relation to opponents - it has been known for a long time. But in modern realities it seems that this principle has extended to the allies, or vassals of the United States. And if America demands unconditional observance of its interests from the first, then from the second they demand almost complete submission in economic and foreign policy issues.
The increasing US pressure on their European allies could not but give rise to contradictions that inevitably affect the unity of the NATO bloc. For example, Americans demand from their partners an increase in spending on the alliance’s armed forces to 4% of GDP, even though the figure of 2% turned out to be unbearable for most countries participating in the military bloc. In addition, they are urged to actively buy, to put it mildly, not the cheapest American weapons. Among the unprepared for such feats was Germany, in the armed forces of which for some time a real mess reigned.
But all this is only a small part of the differences within NATO. One cannot fail to note the significantly increased distrust of Europeans in their American counterparts against the background of the recent adventurous, in the opinion of many, Donald Trump steps, whether it be a unilateral exit from the nuclear deal with Iran, opposition to the construction of Nord Stream - 2, or the threat of starting a full-scale trade war with the EU. Whether these disagreements will become fatal for the alliance, or whether they can still be managed, time will tell.
The increasing US pressure on their European allies could not but give rise to contradictions that inevitably affect the unity of the NATO bloc. For example, Americans demand from their partners an increase in spending on the alliance’s armed forces to 4% of GDP, even though the figure of 2% turned out to be unbearable for most countries participating in the military bloc. In addition, they are urged to actively buy, to put it mildly, not the cheapest American weapons. Among the unprepared for such feats was Germany, in the armed forces of which for some time a real mess reigned.
But all this is only a small part of the differences within NATO. One cannot fail to note the significantly increased distrust of Europeans in their American counterparts against the background of the recent adventurous, in the opinion of many, Donald Trump steps, whether it be a unilateral exit from the nuclear deal with Iran, opposition to the construction of Nord Stream - 2, or the threat of starting a full-scale trade war with the EU. Whether these disagreements will become fatal for the alliance, or whether they can still be managed, time will tell.
Information