<story><title>Latvia wants permanent U.S. troops, foreign minister tells Blinken</title><url>https://www.reuters.com/world/latvia-wants-permanent-us-troops-foreign-minister-tells-blinken-2022-03-07/</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>piokoch</author><text>EU does not have a great track in terms providing security for its members. Nord Stream was pushed by Germany even though it was obvious that this would make Germany depended on Russian gas. Germany killed the plan of common European gas purchase from diversified sources - they wanted to buy it alone, to sell it further and get even more economical advantage over other EU countries (because, unless you don&amp;#x27;t know, gas from Russia is a green energy, CO2 free).&lt;p&gt;That&amp;#x27;s why Germany to the very last moment was opposing arms sale for Ukraine and until the 3rd day of the Russian invasion on Ukraine was opposing sanctions. Blinken was not getting off his plane for good three weeks while traveling to convince European partners from Italy, Germany, France, Hungary that Russia is a real danger and has to be stopped. Long time has to pass before Germany will be consider to be a trusted partner, their silent support for Russia was clear not only to Poland or Baltic countries - Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Romania, Moldavia, they all have seen what is happening and will think twice before trusting Germany.&lt;p&gt;Nobody sane will undermine the role of NATO and USA&amp;#x2F;UK when it comes to European security, over my head I see US and UK spy planes and drones that are flying all days and nights over eastern Poland, providing intel for Ukrainian forces.&lt;p&gt;No country in Europe is capable of pursuing large military operation, France stumbled over their own feet when trying to change ruler in Libya several years ago and France has the best army in continental Europe. Go figure that! They needed US support at the end.&lt;p&gt;Another big problem is the pathetic state of German army, especially heavy component, luckily they have just decided to put significant amount of money on making Bundeswehr a real force since right now with its 300 tanks (three times less than Poland) it is a sad joke.</text></item><item><author>Ericson2314</author><text>Sigh. Can&amp;#x27;t blame them, but Europe needs an EU Army so working with the US is a matter of choice, not necessity.</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>KptMarchewa</author><text>Germany and a lot of politicians in other countries just woke up from 30 year long dream that Russia is and can be normal country. In a few years a lot of what you&amp;#x27;re talking about will be thing of the past.&lt;p&gt;&amp;gt;Another big problem is the pathetic state of German army, especially heavy component, luckily they have just decided to put significant amount of money on making Bundeswehr a real force since right now with its 300 tanks (three times less than Poland) it is a sad joke.&lt;p&gt;Tanks seem to be more and more of a joke in a modern symmetrical conflict right now.&lt;p&gt;I wish we didn&amp;#x27;t buy Abrams, but more jets and SAMs.</text></comment>
<story><title>Latvia wants permanent U.S. troops, foreign minister tells Blinken</title><url>https://www.reuters.com/world/latvia-wants-permanent-us-troops-foreign-minister-tells-blinken-2022-03-07/</url></story><parent_chain><item><author>piokoch</author><text>EU does not have a great track in terms providing security for its members. Nord Stream was pushed by Germany even though it was obvious that this would make Germany depended on Russian gas. Germany killed the plan of common European gas purchase from diversified sources - they wanted to buy it alone, to sell it further and get even more economical advantage over other EU countries (because, unless you don&amp;#x27;t know, gas from Russia is a green energy, CO2 free).&lt;p&gt;That&amp;#x27;s why Germany to the very last moment was opposing arms sale for Ukraine and until the 3rd day of the Russian invasion on Ukraine was opposing sanctions. Blinken was not getting off his plane for good three weeks while traveling to convince European partners from Italy, Germany, France, Hungary that Russia is a real danger and has to be stopped. Long time has to pass before Germany will be consider to be a trusted partner, their silent support for Russia was clear not only to Poland or Baltic countries - Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Romania, Moldavia, they all have seen what is happening and will think twice before trusting Germany.&lt;p&gt;Nobody sane will undermine the role of NATO and USA&amp;#x2F;UK when it comes to European security, over my head I see US and UK spy planes and drones that are flying all days and nights over eastern Poland, providing intel for Ukrainian forces.&lt;p&gt;No country in Europe is capable of pursuing large military operation, France stumbled over their own feet when trying to change ruler in Libya several years ago and France has the best army in continental Europe. Go figure that! They needed US support at the end.&lt;p&gt;Another big problem is the pathetic state of German army, especially heavy component, luckily they have just decided to put significant amount of money on making Bundeswehr a real force since right now with its 300 tanks (three times less than Poland) it is a sad joke.</text></item><item><author>Ericson2314</author><text>Sigh. Can&amp;#x27;t blame them, but Europe needs an EU Army so working with the US is a matter of choice, not necessity.</text></item></parent_chain><comment><author>Ericson2314</author><text>Yeah but I think the lack of an army supports this behavior. If German gas emboldens Russia, it should be German boys dying if Latvia is invaded.</text></comment>