I agree. There seems to be a lot of frustration, even in the pro NATO American institutions, at the lack of output from Canada & European allies.
South Korea alone seems to have more military industrial ambition than either France or Germany.
South Korea alone seems to have more military industrial ambition than either France or Germany.
https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/2024-03/fs_2403_at...
French defense spending, strategy, and export has always been... less aligned with US interests. SK's recent resurgence in popular awareness is in part due to the alignment between Ukraine's situation and SK's situation (ie, artillery production). France's defense industry has been aligning towards French interests for the last few decades (ie, maintain high end halo products like Rafale, FREMM, and also have equipment suitable for expeditionary war in Africa). Similarly with SK... just that SK's situation involved huge amounts of artillery.
Especially with the inclusion of Sweden and Finland, I think it is quite difficult to speak of a single "European NATO". I think there's a clear east-west split in terms how you hear American analysts speak of NATO. It's not really possible to criticize the activity of most of the eastern NATO countries.
They did do a deal where artillery shells needed in Ukraine were laundered through the US
They are looking at changing their law.
Marcon, at least, seems to get it though? I thought the words about the "end of abundance" were fairly spot on, though it does seem like he's pushing the ship himself.
So we hear their grand claims, and they never enforce it.
This creates frustration in Europe because the leader of the European identity has a reputation of being a C student. (And no one seems to be ready to let Germany lead)
Including the Germans.
The stand-up comedy in question