this post was submitted on 25 Feb 2025
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Awesome. Canada next.

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

So um... what happens if a EU country who is not in NATO gets invaded? 🤔

[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

The EU defense clause gets triggered, which is basically a weak obligation to provide "assistance". It's not an automatic call to arms like NATO's A5.

[–] ANNOFlo 11 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

I think it's generally agreed upon that Art. 42 (7) of the EU-Treaty is stronger than Art. 5.

EU: If a Member State is the victim of armed aggression on its territory, the other Member States shall have towards it an obligation of aid and assistance by all the means in their power, in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. This shall not prejudice the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain Member States.

"an obligation of aid and assistance by all means in their power"

vs

NATO: The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognised by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.

"as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force" means direct military support isn't a guarantee.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

I think it's generally agreed upon that Art. 42 (7) of the EU-Treaty is stronger than Art. 5.

That's absolutely not the consensus. This is what the EU themselves say about article 42:

Substantial uncertainty remains over the interpretation of Article 42(7). Following its first and only invocation in 2015, after the November terrorist attacks in Paris, debate intensified on how it works in practice, its scope, the definitions of 'armed aggression' and 'territory', and which forms of aggression it applies to (e.g. whether those include hybrid threats). Experts note that Article 42(7) 'leaves more room for interpretation than one might expect from a clause in a legally binding text'. Many experts hoped that the Strategic Compass would deliver clarification, however that did not occur.

The problem is that through precedent we know that A5 invocations can (and almost certainly will) trigger military aid. With A42, you at best get "aid and assistance", which the EU notes is super vague. The "by all means in their power" is also very vague legally speaking. Suppose Russia invades Estonia, and Latvia says "intervening militarily would invite a Russian invasion of Latvia, so intervening is outside of our power". This consistent vagueness at every level of A42 makes it so it's generally assumed that A42 could very well be weaker than A5, even if the wording appears stronger. It's a political choice how to interpret A42, but with A5 the scopes are defined a bit more clearly, and there's far less wiggle room due to the collective action, rather than the individual actions EU member states would take.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago)

through precedent we know that A5 invocations can (and almost certainly will) trigger military aid.

I don't see why this is 'almost certain'. You rightfully point out that the EU clause leaves wiggle room, but I don't see why you think that room is not there with NATO. I don't know if the current US president cares much about any precedents. If he can wiggle he will wiggle. I don't think Europe trusts US to honor A5 any more.

[–] [email protected] 33 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago)

That's just messaging from leadership on future direction.

Unfortunately, Orban has not magically stopped being Putin's toadie.

[–] mrfriki 46 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

Less talking and more acting.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

It might actually happen more now after the results of the recent German election. They formed a two-way coalition which makes it much easier to do anything.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

No coalition has been formed as of today. Germany was supportive of a Ukrainian EU membership before the elections as well. Nothing has changed on a European level after Germany's elections.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago) (1 children)

You're right that it's not formed yet, however it would be pretty ignorant not to see the pieces on the board. To say that CDU and SPD are being handed an opportunity on a golden platter is an understatement. Not only that, but they both very aware of the direness of their situation. There is simply no world where this coalition isn't formed, mark my words. Plus, you're so, so, so wrong about nothing changing in Europe. To not understand the power a two party coalition has versus a three party coalition is like intentionally burying your head in the sand.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 hour ago

Plus, you’re so, so, so wrong about nothing changing in Europe. To not understand the power a two party coalition has versus a three party coalition is like intentionally burying your head in the sand.

The makeup and coalitions in the parliament of the European Union are completely unaffected by the German election.

[–] [email protected] 206 points 23 hours ago (6 children)

Maybe Trump shitting on everything and making Europe realize they don't need the approval of the US to breathe was the best thing that could have happened to Ukraine.

[–] [email protected] 107 points 23 hours ago (5 children)

I think the world is starting to wake up that maybe we don’t actually need America, at all. People will go where the jobs and economy is. America might not be that soon enough.

[–] [email protected] 27 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

I think that's Putin's plan with Trump. I'm not sure they have something on him more than he's just a complete moron that will destabilize the USA from inside.

[–] Dasus 29 points 20 hours ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 33 points 23 hours ago (3 children)

I was thinking one of the best things that could come out of this is if the US split into multiple countries

[–] [email protected] 7 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

That's exactly what Russia has wanted since the cold war "ended". That said, I honestly don't know how we heal from this. A third of the country is bat shit crazy, and the sane among us are never going to join in their fascism. I think Balkanization is, for better or worse, in our future.

Assuming we don't all blow ourselves up first.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 hours ago

That’s exactly what Russia has wanted since the cold war “ended”.

No shit. Americans empowered ultranationalist to balkanize the USSR. Have a taste of your own medecine.

[–] [email protected] 33 points 23 hours ago (2 children)

I would feel better about this if America didn't have so many nukes...

[–] Carmakazi 10 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

I genuinely hope Canada has some operational plan in a drawer somewhere of conducting a commando raid into North Dakota and Montana to neutralize our ICBM command centers.

[–] IphtashuFitz 10 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Won’t help with all the SLBM’s (submarine launched) and B-52 launched nuclear weapons that we have…

[–] Carmakazi 5 points 21 hours ago

Every warhead either secured or destroyed in a collapsing country would be a victory, I think.

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 19 hours ago (2 children)

Unfortunately the division this time is more rural/urban which would make the logistics of that nearly impossible. If you offered a time for people to move it’d also be vastly lopsided, not to mention things like house prices would crater in some places while skyrocketing in others.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 hours ago

Oh no, house prices, one of the thing that totally works under today's oligarchy I mean free market

[–] [email protected] 7 points 19 hours ago* (last edited 19 hours ago)

I didn't necessarily mean best for Americans, any way you put it they're cooked.

But ya, logistically it's extremely unlikely, that being said California is already talking about secession. So if it did happen it'd likely be certain states (California, Texas, etc.) And not all of them along state lines.

People don't usually think about the long term effects of decisions like this when making them, too.

[–] Gradually_Adjusting 7 points 20 hours ago

All it took was a fifth columnist takeover and both sides of my family and my wife's being disconnected from their roots for more than an entire generation... 🥳

[–] NocturnalMorning 6 points 23 hours ago (2 children)

Yeah, unfortunately I live here, so while this is great for others, it isn't so great for us.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 20 hours ago

Those of us who voted for Kamala are victims that unfortunately will have to go down alongside everyone else. Fascist dictatorships have no place in civilized society.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago) (1 children)

Unhappily married couple, so focused on avoiding misery for a few months of divorce proceedings, decide instead to live miserable every day for the next 30 years.

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[–] [email protected] 32 points 23 hours ago (5 children)

I think we're in for some rocky times over the next few years, but I think the world will be better off with the USA knocked down a few pegs. They are too large and their general population is too easily swayed by nonsense.

The question is, will the population learn anything by being starved out or will they continue to blame anything but their own hubris?

[–] makyo 9 points 18 hours ago

And the rest of the world, particularly the EU, needs to realize that if they don't pull close together they're going to be squeezed out by large forces in the world. I mean look at the influence it already has as a bloc - if they'd cooperate more closely they could be an equal power to contrast China and the USA. Which is why there are forces working overtime to keep EU nations apart.

[–] SlopppyEngineer 11 points 20 hours ago

UK is still coming to terms with Brexit, which happened in 2020, and many will still argue it was a good idea, just badly executed.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 23 hours ago

we are, today, russia 15 years ago. i'm putting in as much work as i can to not be russia as it is now in 15 years.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 23 hours ago

I fear we are well on the path as was described by Robert Heinlein a while back:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/%22If_This_Goes_On%E2%80%94%22

Unfortunately I don't expect things to go well I'm the states. I really hope I'm wrong in that...

[–] [email protected] 5 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago)

Good question. Germany only "learned" by being forced to change after military defeat (and even so, the AfD has been making progress). That's not going to happen here - it will have to be the harder way, total societal collapse.

[–] BassTurd 8 points 22 hours ago (2 children)

I 100% agree that the changes our former allies are making to be more independent from the US are good for them and probably the world as a whole. I do think the the parallel weakening of the US as a world power is what Putin wants for Trump and his ilk to do. My hope is that the economy is hit so hard and people suffer so much that it spurs change before we're past the point of relatively short term recovery (5-10 years, not 20+).

We just need a handful of Republican reps to decide that they don't actually want to give up all of their power to a dictator and his gang, or that maybe they don't want to be associated with the Nazi party. Just a few change their mind, impeach, and remove. Maybe the first time a member of Congress eats a bullet outside of their residence because someone reached the end of their rope, others will act out of fear. I've got my fingers crossed for who I hope it is.

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[–] Tabula_stercore 7 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago)

the best thing that could have happened to Ukraine.

And therefore the world

[–] [email protected] 9 points 23 hours ago

Trump does shake shit up and sometimes, good things come out of it. It's not worth the cost of the bad things though, because it's usually everyone below the 1% that suffer.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 18 hours ago

I think Ukraine should definitely join, but right now we desperately need to reform the veto system before taking any more members

[–] [email protected] 13 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Ukraine first and hopefully Canada soon after.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

And US, in the end, we need to help them. We should write down a list of reforms for them, they got people shooting at themselves, living in tents along the streets, they're full of drugs addicted, obesity, low quality education, and so on. Let them apply too

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

It's so funny that even the altruistic Americans don't ever see the benefits of support deals, only that they're either helping or taking.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 hours ago

It's funny that in the end it's a question of oil and gas

[–] [email protected] 10 points 23 hours ago

Time to protect yourselves from Putin and his puppet.

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