If we like it, and Europe should built capabilities as fast as possible is another question. Sure ot should. And nope, Rutte cannot stop European countries to do so.

He can give interviews. That’s it. Second does Europe has the weapons, technology, command structure to replace certain capabilities (nuclear, signal int, ballistic missile defense, command, logistics) - nope. So Rutte is factually correct./2

But you know the
between policy and Interviews? Rutte‘s job is to keep NATO together. He has no policy tools to stop European nations - if they wish - to build defense capabilities independent of the USA. /1

Which policies make you think that? Especially, since in a strange way, US demands and European needs converge when European become more independent in defense. So how exactly doe Rutte „try to prevent“ Europeans and Canada? Which concrete new NATO policy proposal holds Europeans back?

That’s done outside of NATO. And in in parallel. Certain US capabilities cannot be substitutes fast: signals intelligence, certain logistics, early warning, etc. It’s in Europe‘s interest to keep NATO together as much as possible until new structures are built.

True. My key point is that we should expect the EU and NATO to do a weird dance. There is the good cop (Merz, Rasmussen), bad cop (Macron, Carney, Frederiksen). There is those who play the narcissism (Rutte, Meloni) and unified counter measures (automatic counter tariffs, trade bazooka).

US companies have preferred access to rare earth. No need there. The Chinese have a 9-12% in Greenland Minerals, an Australian Company. Denmark for years blocked further licenses to any company with Chinese share holders. The whole attempt is better explained with narcissistic fixation then logic.

Fair enough. But Rutte is a rational and strategic actor - if he needs to suck up to achieve his goals, he will.

His goal is to enhance NATO. And lately damage control. There is no room for an impulsive/emotional response. He will aim to choose the most effective tool - he doesn‘t go for looks.

Now, my opinion, and this is speculation: He packaged the 1951 bilateral Danish-US Agreement plus NATO nicely. He showed that European allies incl. Denmark will increase Arctic engagement.

Then put this in a gift wrap. And told Trump, that the EU is ready to retaliate economically. Done: TACO

He has a mandate to keep NATO together. That requires that Trump immediately seizes his threats. For Trump to seize his threats he must believe he made gains.

Rutte is a highly experienced politician and diplomat. He can remove bargaining friction between NATO states - and regularly does so. 1/2

What Macron and Rutte tried to do is using compliments and ass kissing to moderate Trump. Using his narcism. It failed, because Trump perceives it as weakness. They instead should push back unified and back it up with action.

Nope. He is not a Trump supporter. A short look into the man and his policies reveals that.

He has the task to keep NATO together. And as minimal goal keep the USA onboard until Europeans and Canada filled capability gaps. Inspite Trump. However: his attempt to play Trumps narcissism failed./1

Meanwhile it is aligned with Macron and the EU on counter tariffs. And the German military planers that arrived met with the Danish Joint Arctic Command is Rear Admiral Stefan Pauly. That personal choice alone is a message, if you spent 3 seconds on NATO.

With all due to respect. You jump of some selected quotes. You don‘t even dare to which policy moves by Germany go along with it. You don‘t know what Germany does or says and with whom they align on what.
Merz mirrors Lars Løkke Rasmussen, if you know who that is./1

In either case, you don‘t throw temper tantrums. You stay calm and prepare. You retaliate when it’s time.

Merz is completely on the right path. Meanwhile they speed prep Operation Arctic Endurance (military) and the EU Anti-Coercion package. Temper tantrums kill succesful strategies.

’s not in the interest of Germany and Europe to end in a trade war with ones biggest customer. Same is true in reverse. So we gotts play tit-for-tat in a calm, cool, and collected manner. Without allowing blackmail and while standing your ground. Leave temper tantrums to the orange crybaby.

There is a 100% guarantee of no future if there is a major collapse in the age group 18-25. Economically, culturally, security. It‘s plain and simple math and demographics.

That’s why 🇺🇦 pushed the military age bracket up. The younger they loose, they replace with 45-55.

PS: Pre-Invasion Ukraine had 8.7 million men aged conscription-eligible. I‘d expect 25% avoidance rate in any country.

Ukraine cannot afford a massive dent in that age group - or Ukraine will have no future. So they take 18-24 voluntary, and goes with conscription for 25-55. So relatively old. To save future fathers. It‘s absolutely not crazy, but future oriented. 2/2

Look at the demographic curve and the mobilisation age of 25 is not crazy. Ukraine suffered the post-soviet birth-rate collapse. It‘s brutally overaged. The age group under 30 is way to small.1/2

It‘s not counting a few non-NATO states like Georgia, too. And it’s not countingsoldiers of states that joined Bush Jr.‘s coalition of the willing in Iraq … but Trump doubts, if NATO would come to US aid if Art. 5 is called. The only country that ever called Art. 5 is the USA. And NATO helped …

Sweden (5)
Latvia (4)
Slovakia (3)
Finland (2)
Portugal (2)
Albania (2)
Belgium (1)
Bulgaria (1)
Croatia (1)
Lithuania (1)

What a dimwit!

Not only. NATO fallen without US during war on terror + ISAF:

United Kingdom (457)
Canada (159)
France (90)
Germany (62)
Italy (53)
Poland (44)
Denmark (43)
Spain (35)
Romania (27)
Netherlands (25)
Turkey (15)
Czech Republic (14)
Norway (10)
Estonia (9)
Hungary (7)

Continued beloe

Bei verstellten und versteckten Notausgängen, beim regelmässigen, unsachgemässen von den Wirten abgesegneten Einsatz von Sprühkerzen, bei der verengten Treppe nicht. Das ist eine tickende Zeitbombe. Es muss Konsequenzen und U-Haft für Betreiber und Beamte geben…

Eigenausbau. Die Baumärkte sind voll von Pyramidenschaum der als relativ feuerfest beworben wird, es aber nicht ist. Und auch nicht für öffentliche Räume zugelassen.

Da muss man ganz genau hinschauen. Da kann man an einen Fehler glauben. 1/2

What about the irony of inviting organizations that organized buses to January 6th to educate about patriotism, democracy, and nation?

A parade uniform of UAF with the epaulettes of an enlisted Солдат … (=Private) same message, and a suit. 😉

No AI, no e-commerce, no search, no Social Media - they all run on your data. Basically, a full return to grey static websites with blue links 1993 style. Indeed the damage one occurs is greater than ones monetary wins. So if we want data and copyrights, we have to be smarter than populism.

The question of data ownership is highly interesting - Jaron Lanier ran the argument that users should be compensated for their bit and bytes long ago.

However, make no mistake, the data value of an individual is in the cents an one digit dollars. And you claim consequently would mean:

NATO never attacked Russia. Nor does it plan, too. Nor did any other neighboring country 🇺🇦, 🇬🇪, etc. pp. It doesn’t need Trump 🤡 for that. All 🇪🇺, NATO, neighboring countries want is to be left the f alone by 🇷🇺 (and buy some expensive oil)…