Mark

I don't understand this fear that some have about a new european alliance undermining NATO. NATO's out of date. And if it goes, so what?

Lamunus

While certainly an attractive idea, there will never be any significant EU force while the people of Europe remain willing to sanction further taxation only for welfare and cultural projects. As much as we find American policies abhorent, the will to actually sacrifice wealth in order to contest them simply does not exist in either the governments or the large majorities of the populace, especially in an economic downturn. This is why most EU governments lined up behind the British; a firm 'no' from a united Europe would inevitably lead to increased military spending in the EU's effort establish it's own political voice. A lot of effort for what? It's not like we're really gonna effect a neocon Republican Administration.

Lamunus

elwoodblues

A pretty accurate assesment of a very likely scenario.

BigBlue2

I think you're referring to ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations), and no, New Zealand is not a member.

ASEAN members are: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar(Burma), Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Answerer

As BigBlue stated, you should be refering to ASEAN. But the Asian alliance I'm refering to, should include East Asian countries like Japan, China, Korea as well. Then it should comparable to the EU of the west.




Frankly, matthias, somehow I think its France and Germany are the ones that about to be subjected to isolation now, thanks to Bush adminstration. Besides, the relationship between GB(Great Britian), Spain and Bulgaria now appear to be in a very good shape and GB doesn't seem to be isolated from the European community.


Nevertheless, I think the rise of EU and China begs another question. Do you guys seriously believed that a multi-polar world will be better off than an uni-polar world?

Skeptictank

This thread is hilarious, really. An EU standing army. Please. Whose going to deploy such a thing? The Commission? Give me a break. It took them 12 years to agree on a RRF of 60k that can't be rapidly deployed anywhere. And as has been noted, no country in Europe, except perhaps France a little, is willing to increase defense spending as needed.
Don't hold your breath for a strategicly important "Rising EU" anytime soon.


HA! Those three wouldn't trust each other as far as they can throw each other! If you can get any serious Asian alliance not organized by the US I'll eat my hat.

Quote:

Do you guys seriously believed that a multi-polar world will be better off than an uni-polar world?

Now THAT is a truly excellent question.

Misso

Actually Gerhard Schr�der announced that Germany should increase it's spendings on the military, not long ago. It might not be a large improvement, but it's a start.

As for the question asked by Answerer: I don't think multiple blocks of power will do much good for the world. From what I understand, throughout history the world was more at peace with one than with multiple powerblocks. There's no reason to assume history won't repeat itself again.

John Hancock

Yes, European Balance of Power against the rising Monarchy of George the III from it's recaptured colony. "If you want to talk about suns not setting on empires, you know, the Brits had nothing compared to this," said John Pike, a defense analyst with GlobalSecurity.org, an intelligence and military policy think tank based in Alexandria, Va. "Rebuilding America's Defences: Strategies, Forces And Resources For A New Century" is still the plan!

Martin Buber

Long Live The Divine Rights of Rulers