NATO gets set to put its house in order

[Rogue Valley]

NATO gets set to put its house in order

The NATO summit in Warsawa July 8-9 will be the most important NATO meeting since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.


Warsaw: NATO’s High Noon?


Moscow’s Shadow on the Upcoming NATO Summit

 

[DaveFagan]

Does the fact that the US funds 75% of NATO mean that the US has a 75% voting majority and the other 24+ Nations each have a 1% vote? A toadie tiger.

 

[Rogue Valley]

Russia Vows to ‘Do Anything’ for Black Sea Balance Despite NATO Plans

Putin has this imperialist notion that the Black Sea belongs solely to Russia. He conveniently forgets that three NATO nations (Turkey/Bulgaria/Romania) border this body of water and another two NATO friendly nations (Ukraine/Georgia) also have a Black Sea coastline.


Wary of Russia, Sweden and Finland sit at NATO top table

Traditionally neutral since the end of WWII, Sweden and Finland have grown weary of the military/economic threats emanating from Moscow.


Donald Trump is wrong about NATO

Why NATO is vital for American interests

 

[kanabco]

very interesting stuff

 

[Rogue Valley]

Leaders and ministers of NATO member states pose for a group photo at the PGE National Stadium in Warsaw on July 8, 2016


NATO sends signals to Russia at Warsaw summit


NATO could be at its most critical point since the Soviet Union broke up


Merkel backs NATO buildup in Eastern Europe


There are many challenges facing NATO, but none more pressing than Russian expansionism. In March of 2014, Russian forces invaded Crimea under a military plan that was conceived in January 2014. Moscow then illegally annexed Crimea. Russian GRU/Spetznaz forces also began forcefully taking over police stations in the Donetsk/Luhansk regions of eastern Ukraine with local collaborators. In the two years since, 10,000+ have been killed, 20,000+ wounded, 675 missing, and 1.5 million war refugees. Russia has moved soldiers (euphemistically called "volunteers") and equipment into the rebel-held -- DNR People's Soviet / LNR People's Soviet -- areas of eastern Ukraine. The rebels now have more battle tanks than the Republic of Germany. Russia will not allow Ukraine to control its own border and thus soldiers and war materials flow into the country unhindered.

Russia is also eating away at Georgia, taking another kilometer of territory every three months or so. Russian forces are still stationed in the Transnistria breakaway region of Moldova. Moscow is now using Crimea as a huge forward military base with increased land/air/sea forces. Putin's intent is to drive NATO forces out of the Black Sea.

Russia's intimidation tactics against the small Baltic States and the neutral Scandinavian nations is well documented. In this area of Europe, Kaliningrad serves as the Crimea military equivalent, with increased land/air/sea forces. Putin has also made common cause with many uber-nationalist political parties across Europe. Political parties that share Putin's authoritarian, nationalist, and xenophobic tendencies.

In Syria, Kremlin fighter jets and bombers have trampled on the Geneva Conventions ... bombing hospitals and clinics while dropping banned cluster and incendiary munitions.

 

[Rogue Valley]

European leaders defend NATO's 'hard' line against Russia


Russian Threat Takes Center Stage at NATO’s Warsaw Summit


Nato summit forges united front on Putin


Trudeau defends NATO force, slams Russia's 'illegitimate' actions

The 2016 NATO Summit in Warsaw | July 8-9