Quote (TheOnlyDenny @ 12 Mar 2022 23:07)
Besides all that has been previously discussed, with war on the verge of European borders (whether it's coming or not), are the American people actually willing to defend every square inch of NATO territory that's under attack?
I know that's what your president said, but what's the popular opinion in America? Do the people feel personally involved in a conflict that will likely never affect them directly?
Quote (TheOnlyDenny @ 12 Mar 2022 23:17)
Yeah, the question remains however. We may find it unlikely even now, but just assuming Putin was gonna reach for the NATO members around the Baltic states, do you think there'd actually be a world war for the defense of Lithuania and Latvia?
That's the big question regarding NATO. Imho, all NATO countries would definitely go to war against Russia to defend Poland or Romania. For the simple reason that Russians advancing into these countries would necessarily imply that they're trying to put pressure toward Western Europe. Hence, the Germans, French and yes, also the Americans would want to wage this hypothetical war - which has just become inevitable in this scenario - as far to the east as possible.
The Baltics are the achilles heel of the current NATO configuration, similar to how East Berlin was the obvious achilles heel during the Cold War. In terms of economics, politics and geostrategic importance, the Baltics are definitely not worth risking a nuclear war with Russia. On the other hand, not defending them would render NATO itself obsolete. Once NATO doesn't act on a clear-cut case of Article 5, the organization will be doomed forever. So from an upholding-NATO-credibility standpoint, the Baltics would definitely have to be defended.
This post was edited by Black XistenZ on Mar 12 2022 10:42pm