Finland joins NATO officially

[Kwami]

Quite simply, nations have to meet certain criteria to join. NATO isn't just a protection club. Nations are expected to contribute their fair share to the collective military strength, intelligence, and finances. Member nations are trusted with NATO technology and NATO secrets. While anyone is free to apply for membership, actually being accepted isn't so easy.

Besides, why would we allow countries in South America or Africa to join? This particular alliance is about thwarting Russian (previously Soviet) aggression. We can have other alliances with other purposes. For example, Japan isn't in NATO, but they're an ally.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Quite simply, nations have to meet certain criteria to join. NATO isn't just a protection club. Nations are expected to contribute their fair share to the collective military strength, intelligence, and finances. Member nations are trusted with NATO technology and NATO secrets. While anyone is free to apply for membership, actually being accepted isn't so easy.

Besides, why would we allow countries in South America or Africa to join? This particular alliance is about thwarting Russian (previously Soviet) aggression. We can have other alliances with other purposes. For example, Japan isn't in NATO, but they're an ally.

This.

 

[bcla]

Quite simply, nations have to meet certain criteria to join. NATO isn't just a protection club. Nations are expected to contribute their fair share to the collective military strength, intelligence, and finances. Member nations are trusted with NATO technology and NATO secrets. While anyone is free to apply for membership, actually being accepted isn't so easy.

Besides, why would we allow countries in South America or Africa to join? This particular alliance is about thwarting Russian (previously Soviet) aggression. We can have other alliances with other purposes. For example, Japan isn't in NATO, but they're an ally.

Sure. We have ANZAC with Australia and New Zealand. Some are bilateral, but NATO is huge.

 

[Kwami]

Sure. We have ANZAC with Australia and New Zealand. Some are bilateral, but NATO is huge.

Yeah, but NATO is huge. So?

 

[Buzz Rules]

Sure. We have ANZAC with Australia and New Zealand. Some are bilateral, but NATO is huge.

Don’t forget AUKUS and 5 Eyes.

 

[SirDuff]

I do understand it and studied it in Poly Sci, it's not that the idea of a collective eludes me. Of course, a collective is useful.

The question is why exactly is Europe more important than South American countries or African countries to the United States in that we do not have alliances with the other continents? Certainly, the people in these other places are equally worth protecting and yet...

Not sure what Poly Sci you took, but it apparently ignored the non-NATO alliances? Like the OAS? OECD? Indo-Pacific?

 

[LuvOrlando]

Not sure what Poly Sci you took, but it apparently ignored the non-NATO alliances? Like the OAS? OECD? Indo-Pacific?

No, I remember, but I am older and now question some of the assertions I was told back before technicolor was a thing. If there is any argument for the rulebook being outdated I would think the grainy black and white film speaks volumes to what the mindset was at the time.

These organizations might exist on paper but they are not fed the same way & one could argue drugs are a far greater threat to Americans than anything else, literally killing thousands of AMERICANS a year.

Stark contrast, no matter how the world is rolled around, looks like the attention, money and resources are dispersed with redlining to me.

NATO is strongest so either open it up or feed others the same way but as it is now the whole thing is a lopsided exercise in institutional redlining. Also, it would be tough to argue enemies to the US are not using this lopsided policy to there advantage and to the disadvantage of US interests. One country in the Southern hemisphere has a facility with thousands moving into it, it is said to be a prison but could just as easily be a training facility for thousands of berserkers. The US needs to pay attention to what is within walking distance.

Basically, yay Norway and all but the US has concerns way closer geographically.

 

[Buzz Rules]

No, I remember, but I am older and now question some of the assertions I was told back before technicolor was a thing. If there is any argument for the rulebook being outdated I would think the grainy black and white film speaks volumes to what the mindset was at the time.

These organizations might exist on paper but they are not fed the same way & one could argue drugs are a far greater threat to Americans than anything else, literally killing thousands of AMERICANS a year.

Stark contrast, no matter how the world is rolled around, looks like the attention, money and resources are dispersed with redlining to me.

NATO is strongest so either open it up or feed others the same way but as it is now the whole thing is a lopsided exercise in institutional redlining.

You are entitled to your opinion but I think you are missing the point. I don’t want the thread to become political, so just please mindful of your posts. I don’t want the Mods closing the thread.

 

[SirDuff]

No, I remember, but I am older and now question some of the assertions I was told back before technicolor was a thing. If there is any argument for the rulebook being outdated I would think the grainy black and white film speaks volumes to what the mindset was at the time.

These organizations might exist on paper but they are not fed the same way & one could argue drugs are a far greater threat to Americans than anything else, literally killing thousands of AMERICANS a year.

Stark contrast, no matter how the world is rolled around, looks like the attention, money and resources are dispersed with redlining to me.

NATO is strongest so either open it up or feed others the same way but as it is now the whole thing is a lopsided exercise in institutional redlining.

You literally said "we do not have alliances with other continents" which is patently and demonstrably false. Not sure what being older now has to do with making false statements?

 

[Buzz Rules]

You literally said "we do not have alliances with other continents" which is patently and demonstrably false. Not sure what being older now has to do with making false statements?

I agree. And the video I posted on the thread explains that as well.

 

[LuvOrlando]

I agree. And the video I posted on the thread explains that as well.

Paper and real are different things. For example, there is an ADA but most places do not observe it so it is a paper rule.

In the case of NATO the world is lopsided, if you can show me that funding and attention is equally distributed to the other named things, really any others anywhere, I would be happy to see the numbers and resources devoted.

While we are focused on Europe it is likely the real offense from same enemies are just under our noses, literally South.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Paper and real are different things. For example, there is an ADA but most places do not observe it so it is a paper rule.

In the case of NATO the world is lopsided, if you can show me that funding and attention is equally distributed to the other named things, really any others anywhere, I would be happy to see the numbers and resources devoted.

It’s only 2% of each country’s GDP. It’s a morally right investment that keeps the “golden peace”. There will always be injustices in the world but NATO can only do so much. As @SirDuff has rightly said, other
non-NATO countries have their own direct partnerships as well. The 3rd world countries you are arguing for are constantly unstable and thus making them unreliable allies (and unable to join according to the charter anyway).