Middle East Defence & Security

[Redshift]

Right. Well they're asked now and been asked for over a decade do make a change. Bringing up what happened decades ago is not a good excuse.

I can understand encouraging NATO allies to avoid duplicity and focus more on land power in nations closer to Russia and naval and air power in nation farther from it, or to avoid duplicity in capabilities built for the alliance and not for one nation. But the general structure of an armed force that is sufficient for independent or cooperative defense with a minimized alliance, is not something I'd logically consider discouraging.
In the end, the UK also has something of a ground army. And Poland has naval and air branches.
NATO is a large group of skeletons, who have been strongly encouraged to spend more on their defense. The US isn't going to tell any NATO member not to buy tanks, planes, or ships, nor is it going to tell anyone not to build factories or recruit more soldiers.

What I seeing now is a US encouraging Europe to rearm. That I've seen for at least a decade. I am seeing a US shifting gradually to the Pacific but regional allies seemingly make no meaningful steps to prepare.

Israel is often criticized for being a security burden on the US, despite probably being the least burdensome ally of all US allies. And Europe for some reason is pissy about being asked to pay the bill.

The USA has made an absolute fortune selling weapons to Europe despite the budget cuts over the years, unfortunately for them many of thier (former?) European allies are now looking to local sources for armements. So I feel that Trump may have forced a much needed rearmement but much less of that money will be spent on US systems now that he and his administration have alienated so many Europeans.

 

[Big_Zucchini]

The USA has made an absolute fortune selling weapons to Europe despite the budget cuts over the years, unfortunately for them many of thier (former?) European allies are now looking to local sources for armements. So I feel that Trump may have forced a much needed rearmement but much less of that money will be spent on US systems now that he and his administration have alienated so many Europeans.

Trump pushed for European buildup and rearmament. That is inseparable from buildup of local industry. I do not think the US miscalculated. I think they got exactly what they were aiming for.

American, South Korean, Israeli industries have prepared and are increasing output to Europe. But they cannot realistically rearm a whole continent together within the desired time frame.

 

[Redshift]

Trump pushed for European buildup and rearmament. That is inseparable from buildup of local industry. I do not think the US miscalculated. I think they got exactly what they were aiming for.

American, South Korean, Israeli industries have prepared and are increasing output to Europe. But they cannot realistically rearm a whole continent together within the desired time frame.

Trump miscalculated not the USA, these are two different entities. I am 100 percent sure that Trump was expecting to profit massively (or should that be bigly?) from European rearmement but his other actions in the area of tariffs and trade barriers, not to mention his (and his political allies) wholesale assault on European democracy and culture and his threats to occupy and control Greenland have damaged those prospects.

 

[Big_Zucchini]

Trump miscalculated not the USA, these are two different entities. I am 100 percent sure that Trump was expecting to profit massively (or should that be bigly?) from European rearmement but his other actions in the area of tariffs and trade barriers, not to mention his (and his political allies) wholesale assault on European democracy and culture and his threats to occupy and control Greenland have damaged those prospects.

Those could have affected things, but I also know Europe has fewer competent leaders than whiny populists.
Tell them to rearm and they act like you insulted their ancestors.

But, you know, it's only their own security they're betting on just to stick it to orange man. Nothing major.

I hear about these leaders in my local news when they speak about sanctions or arms embargos on Israel, some even about invading the nuking Israel.
Then via European channels I hear them talking about how the US is a bigger threat than Russia.

And when I look closer, I see that they're the same leaders in both cases. And I also see that each and every one of them is dealing with some domestic crisis they need a scapegoat for. Whether it's some abysmal approval rating or someone unable to form a government or soaring crime or whatever.

 

[Big_Zucchini]

OSINTers following Palestinian social media say such desperation was not felt since January 2025, when Hamas personnel were observed openly calling on their superiors to accept a ceasefire.

Palestinians on social media say Hamas ran away from Al Shifa hospital and that its presence is not felt around the area.

AI Translation:

Great tension surrounds Al-Shifa Hospital The atmosphere in and around the hospital is witnessing a state of popular unrest amid the absence of any real presence of authority on the ground, with indications of a near-complete withdrawal of Hamas movement elements from Gaza City and their inability to maintain control.
Angry citizens are directing urgent appeals to the Palestinian Authority and President Mahmoud Abbas for immediate intervention and to issue instructions to the Authority’s agencies in Gaza to take to the field and protect citizens following the security vacuum resulting from the absence of Hamas authority.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1967157903376433451