Norway Today reported on 27 September 2021, “Norway will sign an agreement on military cooperation with Sweden and Denmark on Friday, Minister of Defense Frank Bakke-Jensen (H) has stated. He says the agreement is a recognition that a serious security policy crisis in the Nordic region would affect all Nordic countries. “The vision with the agreement is that we should be prepared to act together in peacetime, and if a conflict arises,” he said. Bakke-Jensen has said that the collaboration is based on developing the operational collaboration, including information exchange and joint planning work.”
Although official denied, similar news was reported that France is also asking for raising EU Army. The fact is that in many EU countries people are worried about their defense arrangements and are upset with the US on NATO behavior.
NATO was a very effective alliance during the cold war era, when, Europe was facing threats from communism. But after the disintegration of the former USSR in 1991, the role of NATO has become irrelevant, especially, when most of the Warsaw Pact countries joined the EU or NATO or kept their distance from Russia.
The US also realized that NATO is only a burden of declining American Economy, and reduced its weightage considerably. NATO became only a trading, political or diplomatic alliance. In fact, the US has been using the NATO alliance only for political purposes. Like at the time of attacking Iraq, the US used this platform to legitimize the war on Iraq. Although, the reason given was fake as there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Later on, the BBC has to confess the fake news and the Prime Minister of the UK have to apologize publically.
Not only once, but NATO has been used time and again for political purposes only. Like the war on Libya, Syria, Afghanistan, etc.
When the US realized its mistake and understood that the Afghan War is unwinnable. Even after spending two trillion dollars, twenty years, and all possible weapons and war machines, could not control a single inch of Afghan land, it decided to end war desperately.
The US negotiated a peace deal with the Taliban directly, without involving NATO Alliance or the Afghan puppet Government. Finally, the deal was reached between the Taliban and the US in February 2020 in Doha, without any role played by NATO.
The US’s abrupt withdrawal from Afghanistan, without informing allies, has also offended NATO. The US has ditched its allies on several occasions. It is all right for the US to protect its interests, but at what cost? Should betray its allies? Etc. and, any similar questions rises in the minds of many people in Europe.
On the other hand, the US war thrust is ever-growing and maintaining the largest number of military bases and troops around the globe. It cost money, hard-earned money, collected from the American taxpayers. Americans are also asking for accountability and our comes f all these wars and lavish military expenditures. The US economy is also sliding downward. It is really impossible to sustain such luxury defense budgets forever. Definitely, it will have a direct impact on NATO.
There was a time when the EU was a major trading partner of the US. But now, many EU countries are becoming more inclined toward China for economic activities. China has become the largest foreign investor for a few EU countries and the largest trading partner. China is the biggest job creator for few EU countries. EU has more options and may choose whichever suits them.
Some of the EU countries are depending on Russia for energy. So the role of the US has been divided and open competition is prevailing in the market in all aspects. EU has got multiple options and choose their partners at their own convenience and comfort.
Having every country its own Armies may also not be feasible, especially, few European nations, may not be able to afford defense expenditures so comfortably. Making a regional alliance like Sweden-Norway-Denmark is the absolutely right approach, it may not violate NATO. Other countries may also form some kind of regional alliance while keeping NATO intact.
Regional alliances are emerging in many other parts of the world too. There exists harmony in many regional alliances and naturally will support each other in all aspects of life.
