“In my wildest dreams, I did not imagine that as Former NATO Joint Forces Commander-in-Chief, wrote a akin column. Unfortunately, given the full skeptical and increasingly dividing rhetoric, about a venerable alliance that flows from Washington and Europe already at the beginning of Donald Trump's second administration, it was time to think about what a geopolitical scenery would be if The United States has left NATO“ Stavridis wrote.
SEE: Trump's secret plan. Media: 240 1000 Ukrainians at hazard of deportation
According to the erstwhile military, the withdrawal of America from NATO would be "an epic error". However, he notes that Republican Party there are influential politicians who are serious about this, or at least they are considering this possibility.
Media on NATO's possible break-up. erstwhile Commander sets out a plan for Europe
‘Vice president J. D. Vance with contempt for the Alliance in his virulent speech on The Munich safety Conference Last month. And of course, a surreal public duel in Oval Office between Trump and the president of Ukraine Zelenski Volodymyr, catalysed by Vance, does not inspire much assurance in future NATO cooperation. U.S. decision to vote against UN resolution condemning Russia's invasion of UkraineShe joined Russia and North Korea, was a shocking demonstration a weakening coherence of the transatlantic alliance“” says the author.
According to Stavridis on the European side, doubts about the American commitment to the Alliance are increasing. As the president of France emphasises Emmanuel Macron For years he has been talking about the request to be called to life independent European defence forceswhich would supply the Old Continent with "strategic autonomy".
SEE: Zelenski in Brussels. "Thank you for the strong signal of support"
As indicated by retired military, a NATO devoid of the U.S. the European Treaty Organisation (ETO), which would be based on the current treaty, but excluding Washington. According to Stavridis, it is possible that she would stay in the Alliance Canada, which needs European partners to warrant safety in Arctic.
What alternatively of NATO? Stavridis sees 2 options
Another anticipation would be to call new safety system under the auspices European UnionWhich she would have entered, too. United Kingdom. "The EU already has a reasonably well-developed chain of command, top commander and experience in conducting operations independently of the US or NATO, for example in peacekeeping in the Balkans", the erstwhile commander assesses.
SEE: Sweden proposes Poland fighters. They are to participate in the NATO mission
Stavridis, noting that no country has always full withdrawn from NATO, provides that, after a possible exit from the U.S. Alliance, – Europeans would do 3 things:
- would proceed to increase Defence expenditure, in peculiar by extending atomic potential;
- foreign and defence policy Europeans would rapidly become independent of US policy;
- Europe definitely support Ukraine Recognising that surrender to Putinian aggression Russia It would be a immense failure.
"I hope the transatlantic bridge does not break completely, but I surely hear its loud squeaking. If it collapses, it will not end well on any side of the Atlantic", concludes the author, stressing that European allies share American fundamental values, and "fight and die at our side in AfghanistanAnd under my command, they were active in operations in Libya, the Balkans, Iraq and anti-piracy operations off the coast Eastern Africa‘.
== sync, corrected by elderman ==
