I liked John Bolton's recent remarks regarding NATO.

He said the Europeans should ignore the Trump's admin badmouthing Europe, Trump will only be here 4 years max. In the meantime, although European leaders might feel like telling the US they don't need them so it's time to build a European force only, this will simply give Trump a good excuse to leave NATO, something he's been threatening to do for years. 

Bolton recommends European nations build up their military forces, and importantly, follow the advice of Jose Maria Aznar, the former Prime Minister of Spain, namely make NATO global: bring in Japan, Australia, Singapore, Israel.

According to Bolton this could cause Donald to think twice about leaving NATO.

Good idea, wot?

 

Why, they ain't stupid.  

 

They already have their own alliances; SEATO, ASEAN (not just for trade, but security also)

 

Thailand already rubbing shoulders with JMSDF (Japan), and a Thai naval taskforce arrived in Zhanjiang for Blue Strike-2025 joint naval training, on Tuesday.

 

Y'all need to keep up, maybe read some other stuff, besides AN 

 

Apparently Jose doesn't get out much either, maybe because not part of SEATO

Except for Israel a bunch of military weak countries who suck the life out of others for protection.  

Israel? Okay one attack on NATO is an attack on all. What could go wrong?

1 hour ago, Cryingdick said:

Israel? Okay one attack on NATO is an attack on all. What could go wrong?

I wouldn't include Israel, that's Bolton's opinion.

Just now, bannork said:

I wouldn't include Israel, that's Bolton's opinion.

It would be impossible to include them. We would be at war already if we did.

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

Why, they ain't stupid.  

 

They already have their own alliances; SEATO, ASEAN (not just for trade, but security also)

 

Thailand already rubbing shoulders with JMSDF (Japan), and a Thai naval taskforce arrived in Zhanjiang for Blue Strike-2025 joint naval training, on Tuesday.

 

Y'all need to keep up, maybe read some other stuff, besides AN 

 

Apparently Jose doesn't get out much either, maybe because not part of SEATO

Wasn't SEATO dissolved in 1977?

ASEAN members protect each other military wise ?? I'll believe it when I see it. 

Back in 1954 there used to be an alliance in the Region called SEATO. South East Asia Treaty Organisation.

 

Sadly it was dissolved in 1977.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeast_Asia_Treaty_Organization

 

 

8 hours ago, bannork said:

Bolton recommends European nations build up their military forces, and importantly, follow the advice of Jose Maria Aznar, the former Prime Minister of Spain, namely make NATO global: bring in Japan, Australia, Singapore, Israel.

Bolton, IMO, is a warmongering fool, and should be consigned to the political wilderness before he can do any more damage.

 

As for bring those countries into NATO, a warmonger's wet dream that will hopefully be ignored. They are, after all, far from the Atlantic ocean. The less the rest of the world has to do with Euro warmongering the better.

 

6 hours ago, bannork said:

Wasn't SEATO dissolved in 1977?

ASEAN members protect each other military wise ?? I'll believe it when I see it. 

SEATO got Australia and NZ involved in the Vietnam fiasco- good riddance.

7 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Bolton, IMO, is a warmongering fool, and should be consigned to the political wilderness before he can do any more damage.

 

As for bring those countries into NATO, a warmonger's wet dream that will hopefully be ignored. They are, after all, far from the Atlantic ocean. The less the rest of the world has to do with Euro warmongering the better.

 

The only country engaging in war in Europe is Russia, now seemingly backed by the US.

21 minutes ago, bannork said:

The only country engaging in war in Europe is Russia, now seemingly backed by the US.

Why bring in countries far from the Atlantic if not to expand the world wide wars of America? You mentioned bringing in Israel in the OP. Under NATO every NATO country will be pressured to join in Israel's wars in Lebanon, Syria and Yemen, and ultimately Iran. Not a happy prospect.

6 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Why bring in countries far from the Atlantic if not to expand the world wide wars of America? You mentioned bringing in Israel in the OP. Under NATO every NATO country will be pressured to join in Israel's wars in Lebanon, Syria and Yemen, and ultimately Iran. Not a happy prospect.

I agree, no Israel. That's Bolton's idea.

The idea of bringing in countries far from the Atlantic is to strengthen the alliance and countries that counter empire building authoritarian regimes, i.e, China and Russia, and possibly the USA if it really goes down the same path, though Bolton suggests Trump may consider staying in NATO if it expands.

4 minutes ago, bannork said:

I agree, no Israel. That's Bolton's idea.

The idea of bringing in countries far from the Atlantic is to strengthen the alliance and countries that counter empire building authoritarian regimes, i.e, China and Russia, and possibly the USA if it really goes down the same path, though Bolton suggests Trump may consider staying in NATO if it expands.

I disagree. NATO should be for Europe. If Pacific nations , including Australia and NZ, want protection from China, start a treaty organisation for them. I don't want NZ getting involved in Euro squabbles, and I'm sure Euro nations don't want to get involved against China because they invade Fiji or something like that.