As Russian aggression continues and Trump’s US threatens NATO, it is even more vital for a unified defence of the continent.

Timothy Garton Ash Professor of European Studies, University of Oxford

  • JensSpahnpasta@feddit.org
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    4 days ago

    As a german: I really am not sure if I want to embed our Bundeswehr into a Europe where Marie LePen might become the head of France, where fascist Melony is ruling Italy and so on.

    • asdf@feddit.org
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      3 days ago

      I am more concerned that our current government plays into the hands of the AfD while increasing military. If the AfD comes into power, they get a large military

    • WaxRhetorical@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      As a Dane, I do want strong militaries, because given what’s happening in Greenland right now we may need to show more strength towards the US… Not to mention Russia and China.

      As a French citizen (dual citizen), I am ashamed that LePen is even in consideration for president. We need to work against the billionaires essentially buying fascists into power for their own gains.

    • CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org
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      3 days ago

      The fact fascism can come from within makes it extra hard to fight, yes.

      Still, vs. Putin, Europe has a long way it would have to slide.

    • JustEnoughDucks@slrpnk.net
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      3 days ago

      Look on the bright side. AfD seems to be taking over Germany and then you are back to a fascist military so it won’t matter whether you integrate with Europe or not. (Not that I can talk with VB here in Belgium)

    • Foofighter@discuss.tchncs.de
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      3 days ago

      I think it’s an argument for the inability of one nation within the EU to attack another one. Similarly to the euro zone.

      Imagine a French, German and Italian army with barracks all over Europe. Imagine then one of the three tried to coordinate an attack on another one. It would immediately deadlock. Operation would require unity, which in a defensive case, is easier to organize.

      There are probably arguments for both, integration and independence. I dunno…

    • Pip@feddit.orgOP
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      4 days ago

      Well, tough luck. Germany only has alliance military forces based on your constitution.

        • Goldholz @lemmy.blahaj.zone
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          3 days ago

          Yeaaah the ancestors of the blue-brown smurfs who might come back to power also enjoyed the german military spread out across europe…just not in that way