Another map!
This map is intended to display, in broad strokes, the alliances of European states, and where they overlap.
![[Image: eurtm.png]](https://i.ibb.co/v1zbckD/eurtm.png)
Some takeaways:
[1] Most of the European NATO members are also members of the European Union. Put sharply, this situation is not good for the USA, the UK, and Canada.
Oh, but why? Because NATO and the EU exist for different purposes. The Union has its own foreign policy goals and initiatives, some of which have little to do with the interests of extra-EU NATO members (like the USA); yet, NATO binds its members in a collective security pact.
A prime example of the risk involved was demonstrated during the Ukrainian "Orange Revolution". Leading up to that event was an EU "economic initiative" meant to reorient the thrust of Ukraine's economy away from Russia and towards the EU. Recall that the then-leader of Ukraine decided to accept the EU initiative . . . at which point Putin threw a fit. This caused the Ukrainian leader to perform an about-face . . . but that reconsideration was followed by the revolution, and then military intervention by Russia which has since resulted in a significant amount of Ukrainian territory being occupied by Russian military and paramilitary forces.
The critical question here is, had Russia decided to make demands of the EU by way of retaliation, how obligated was NATO to respond to what was essentially a huge miscalculation of EU (read: German) foreign and economic policy?
This situation has gotten even more muddled with the establishment of military units in EU countries that answer only to the EU and not to NATO. At some point, a military crisis will emerge and the dysfunction of this situation will be to the disadvantage of both parties.
[2] See the little blob of red between Poland and Lithuania? That is Russian territory -- the Kaliningrad Exclave. The Exclave is home to plenty of Russian troops, and Russian troops are also stationed in Belarus. That situation means only a narrow corridor of NATO/EU territory connects Lithuania and Poland: the "Suwalki Gap". In terms of political geography, these kind of situations are always considered to be a war waiting to happen. Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia used to be Soviet Socialist Republics in the USSR, and the politicians of today's Russia are none too happy with them enthusiastically embracing membership in the EU and NATO.
[3] Another security aspect worth noting are the Islamic countries that are members of NATO. In the event of a broad West:Islam conflict, it is doubtful they would be much concerned about their obligations to NATO. Note well the current disputes between Turkey and Greece also hinge more upon the ancient conflict between the West and Islam than the subordinate issues concerning migration and fishing rights.
[4] At the tip of Spain is British territory: Gibraltar. Gibraltar is an on-and-off scene of confrontation between British and Spanish authorities, or, put in terms of alliances, between NATO and EU authorities.
[5] In terms of alliances, the Balkan states are all over the place. Given the region's reputation as the "powder-keg of Europe", that is another dysfunctional situation.
One won't see much discussion of these issues and dysfunction in the MSM. Even just compiling this map was an hour-long exercise as such "looks" are not distributed in information sources commonly accessed by the public.
Cheers
This map is intended to display, in broad strokes, the alliances of European states, and where they overlap.
Some takeaways:
[1] Most of the European NATO members are also members of the European Union. Put sharply, this situation is not good for the USA, the UK, and Canada.
Oh, but why? Because NATO and the EU exist for different purposes. The Union has its own foreign policy goals and initiatives, some of which have little to do with the interests of extra-EU NATO members (like the USA); yet, NATO binds its members in a collective security pact.
A prime example of the risk involved was demonstrated during the Ukrainian "Orange Revolution". Leading up to that event was an EU "economic initiative" meant to reorient the thrust of Ukraine's economy away from Russia and towards the EU. Recall that the then-leader of Ukraine decided to accept the EU initiative . . . at which point Putin threw a fit. This caused the Ukrainian leader to perform an about-face . . . but that reconsideration was followed by the revolution, and then military intervention by Russia which has since resulted in a significant amount of Ukrainian territory being occupied by Russian military and paramilitary forces.
The critical question here is, had Russia decided to make demands of the EU by way of retaliation, how obligated was NATO to respond to what was essentially a huge miscalculation of EU (read: German) foreign and economic policy?
This situation has gotten even more muddled with the establishment of military units in EU countries that answer only to the EU and not to NATO. At some point, a military crisis will emerge and the dysfunction of this situation will be to the disadvantage of both parties.
[2] See the little blob of red between Poland and Lithuania? That is Russian territory -- the Kaliningrad Exclave. The Exclave is home to plenty of Russian troops, and Russian troops are also stationed in Belarus. That situation means only a narrow corridor of NATO/EU territory connects Lithuania and Poland: the "Suwalki Gap". In terms of political geography, these kind of situations are always considered to be a war waiting to happen. Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia used to be Soviet Socialist Republics in the USSR, and the politicians of today's Russia are none too happy with them enthusiastically embracing membership in the EU and NATO.
[3] Another security aspect worth noting are the Islamic countries that are members of NATO. In the event of a broad West:Islam conflict, it is doubtful they would be much concerned about their obligations to NATO. Note well the current disputes between Turkey and Greece also hinge more upon the ancient conflict between the West and Islam than the subordinate issues concerning migration and fishing rights.
[4] At the tip of Spain is British territory: Gibraltar. Gibraltar is an on-and-off scene of confrontation between British and Spanish authorities, or, put in terms of alliances, between NATO and EU authorities.
[5] In terms of alliances, the Balkan states are all over the place. Given the region's reputation as the "powder-keg of Europe", that is another dysfunctional situation.
One won't see much discussion of these issues and dysfunction in the MSM. Even just compiling this map was an hour-long exercise as such "looks" are not distributed in information sources commonly accessed by the public.
Cheers
![[Image: 14sigsepia.jpg]](https://i.ibb.co/9yxWwxj/14sigsepia.jpg)
Location: The lost world, Elsewhen