US Grand Strategy: NATO, Alliances, & Ukraine - how alliances underpin American influence
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.ค. 2024
- From the time NATO was founded in 1949 to the recent accession of Finland, the United States has remained the foremost military power in NATO.
But a question that is not often asked is why? Why would a power like the USA continue to expand promises of defence to an ever larger group of nations that cannot hope to offer a similar level of capability or assistance in return.
The acceptance of new allies into NATO or bilateral and multilateral security treaties has not always been without domestic and international opposition.
And so today I wanted to follow up on my video on Russian grand strategy, with its baked in goal of undermining American influence and global leadership, with an examination of America's published security strategy, the role alliances and coalitions play in it, and some of the theory behind why the argument can be made that the basis of American global influence and its privileged security position owe as much to its alliances and coalitions as to other
aspects of its power.
Patreon:
/ perunau
Caveats and Comments:
Two odd typos that appear to have made it through editing: The reference to "eactionary disruptors" should be "reactionary disruptors"
And in a currency chart - the data appears to have used "RMB" rather than "CNY" for Renminbi for some reason. That is an error.
As always - all the usual caveats around platform, manpower and budget figures apply. All figures in this presentation should be treated as indicative given the challenges of getting precise like-like comparisons
As many of you would know there are different ways of expressing security dilemmas and explaining the logic behind asymmetric alliance structures. Because this is one video - focused on a single power I've chosen a particular method of explaining the theoretical basis for those decisions.
And - once again - this video is an effort to explain the what and why of how alliance structures are critical to US security strategy (as published). It is not intended either as an endorsement or as a critique.
Sources & Reading:
NATO annual tracking research -2022
www.nato.int/nato_static_fl20...
US National Security Strategy 2022
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content...
NATO agrees higher 2023 budgets
www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/ne...
Japan and chipmaking equipment export restrictions
www.reuters.com/technology/ja...
www.reuters.com/technology/ja...
Dutch and chipmaking equipment export restrictions
www.asiafinancial.com/dutch-s...
Composition of FOREX reserves
data.imf.org/?sk=E6A5F467-C14...
Forex turnover volumes
www.bis.org/statistics/rpfx22...
ROK 2018 Defence White Paper
www.mnd.go.kr/user/mnd/upload...
OPEC+ Production cuts
www.reuters.com/business/ener...
RCB assets locations
www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs...
Example of previous announcement on own-currency trade agreements
en.mercopress.com/2013/03/28/...
www.chinadaily.com.cn/helloch...
www.bbc.com/news/business-219...
OPEC 1975
www.nytimes.com/1975/06/10/ar...
US army force structure (and associated costs)
www.cbo.gov/sites/default/fil...
NATO Joint ISR
www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/to...
F35 Production - 2008
www.slideshare.net/andycoster...
Example coverage of opinions on US forces in Japan
www.overtdefense.com/2023/03/...
Ukraine aid support tracking:
www.ifw-kiel.de/topics/war-ag...
Most platform and manpower figures as per MB-2021, budgets as per NATO reporting
Timestamps:
00:00:00 - US Grand Strategy
00:01:51 - What Am I Talking About?
00:03:15 - Collective Security
00:09:11 - The Great Power View
00:15:38 - Great Power Strategy & Goals
00:26:39 - Alliances, Quantified
00:33:13 - Scenarios & Capabilities
00:40:13 - Collective Benefits
00:44:02 - Great Power Economics
00:58:42 - Ukraine - The System in Action
01:02:11 - Alternatives & Threats?
01:06:53 - Conclusions
01:08:02 - Channel Update
Decided to move the release of this one forward give it's the Easter weekend for many of you watching.
Given the recent accession of Finland and the fact I've previously looked at security strategy from the point of view of smaller nations, I thought it would be interesting to turn the question around and ask how and why alliance structures are employed even by major powers that you'd think would be entirely capable of standing on their own if needed.
I hope you enjoy.
Happy Easter! Fun fact, my Ukrainian friend doesn’t celebrate Easter until next week.
Slava Ukraini glory to Azov 🇺🇦❤️
Cheers, Perun, and happy Easter.
A surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one.
first we win in Ukraine
THEN we restructure relations with China.
“There is only one thing worse than fighting with allies, and that is fighting without them”
- Winston Churchill
After 1776, and a few incidents afterwards, we should have let England fend for itself. They have never had America's interest at heart, and never will.
@Ovis Militaris You are speaking of soldiers. The other person is sepaking of national interests.
Their soldiers can be good and good people while the national interests may still not line up.
Not saying I agree with either of you but you both seem to be applying different perspectives.
@@mattbrown5511 when at times American foreign policy is so retarded, it usually takes a British and funnily French foreign policy to make it realize how its own policy to be self-harming. 😅
I though he said the only thing worse was every other form of government
@@thedownwardmachine … It’s just vaguely possible that one of the greatest political figures who ever lived, has left us with more than one memorable quote.
You think?
When Perun puts more effort into his PowerPoint videos than the Russians did planning this invasion...
[slidewhistle effect]
i mean, its not difficult to beat the russians.
Scott Ritter: Russia killed 6 billion Ukrainians and the attack on Kyiv was 4D underwater backgammon chess on a unicycle on a tightrope. Trust the plan!! Russia is stronger than ever!
This exact same joke was in the last video as well, you know.
Oh … this is so funny. 😂😂
As a Finnish man who has been trained by the Finnish armed forces, I truly think us joining NATO is a win-win.
We already have the means to defend ourselves against the current perceived threat. But joining NATO makes invading us, even more suicidal and thus less likely. And in return, NATO gets a well defended extra 1k+ kilometers of border with Russia, which Russia now has to calculate into any plans they have when making moves. NATO also gets access to the Finnish waters and coast on the Baltic sea, basically owning it as a lake now. NATO also gets access to Finnish reserves in case of a Russian invasion into our neighboring countries.
Personally, I feel that invading Finland was ALREADY suicidal before April 2023. Now that Finland is a NATO member, it would be pure madness.
I doubt that many Russian troops would even make it across the border.
@@CMY187 regardless, Russia is still a threat they may be a shadow of their former selves and we may have overestimated them even in Soviet times, but they cast a very large shadow....
@@CMY187 I mean, invading Ukraine turned out semi-suicidal too, its just that the nuclear coercion shields russia from political fallout of their failures and crimes, to a degree.
Thats why Finland getting even direct NATO guarantees is relevant.
I personally mostly love the message. Russia invaded Ukraine "because of NATO expansion? " well fu, we'll expand even further then! We don't negotiate with terrorists.
very well said. And, looking at history, the Russians will be VERY wary of picking a fight with Finland :)
As a Swede, I fully support our Australian brothers in starting an Iron Ore Cartel.
Did you notice that Perun said that he had no plans to set up a cartel in the NEAR future. Doesn't rule it out, however 😉
Canadian here. So do I.
American here, let's all just be real cool, friends.
(And remember who, if you get invaded for your ore, is coming in off the bench with a chair before you get pinned)
Don't forget we have the largest Uranium deposit on the planet. We just sit on & don't bother using it. I say we should give them to our allies to keep their nukes in-check & maintained well. Well as to make some AP ammo.
@@Nmille98 I’m thinking screwing China not the US lol
I would like to thank Russia for making Finland join NATO and increasing the size of NATO on Russia's border.
Don't forget ukraine that's now majority pro nato and EU, when they were majority against before.
@Platys Platys Ukraine won't join the EU and NATO unless Russia collapses, and its hard to see that happening.
"I remain a master strategist" - Putin
@@alansmith4655 I don't see a reason why not. What are they gonna do? Threaten to invade with the army they don't have?
@@platysplatys3967 don’t forget it managed to solve the cultural question of nato. US under obama and further under trump was disinterested and wanted out, germany didnt want to pay and the UK had bad food. Now US likes nato again and germany is paying but the british still have bad food
“Totally not Russia, see it’s a different flag” I love the dry sarcastic humor in these videos
Me too, me too
at least it's not the Kiwilanders getting invaded this time
Interesting that country that totally does not look like Czechia and country that does not look like Slovakia and country that does not look like Hungary are marked blue even thou they, of course, haven't been already been invaded once by country that does not look like soviet Russia.
That's been present in Finnish military training forever. Only changed with the Invasion of 2022. Before that we trained against a hypothetical yellow nation, which supposedly didn't correspond directly with the military of any other country, but drew inspiration from multiple great powers. Always invaded from the east though, for some reason :P
@@jaakkovuori9616 Almost as if Finland and Sweden would never have to worry about an invasion from the west for some mythical reasons; almost as if there was an entire alliance of countries who wouldn’t attack and would only defend.
As a Canadian, I think an iron ore exporting cartel is a fine idea.
I very much enjoyed the video. It's always best to look at a situation from multiple angles, and I think you do an excellent job of pointing out the strengths and weaknesses in any given issue you talk about.
As a Swede I second this motion ;)
Fully agree. I also think we should sanction Norway as soon as possible, just for the hell of it.
The motion has been moved and seconded, the motion to sanction the hell out of Norway for absolutely no reason is now open for debate
Edit: I'm gonna throw my two cents in here, they've had it coming for a while
As another Australian, I want in on that action
Iron ore embargo on China ought to adjust the CCP attitude a bit.
We should note that, generally speaking, peace is profitable. Like a neighborhood with a high crime rate, war depresses economic activity. It disrupts trade, destroys valuable things and kills potentially productive humans. A peaceful and stable region that people are confident will stay peaceful and stable is able to develop and be prosperous, because investors are not concerned that their investment will be destroyed. NATO has (along with the EU) allowed Europe to bind itself together and move past its extremely violent past. It has stabilized the Balkans into an arrangement that (most everyone) can agree on. And the United States has reaped great dividends from the fact that South Korea is a prosperous and innovative country instead of an outpost for its lesser sibling. A stable, alliance-based world order is a lot like a well-vaccinated world - a wonderous utopia to our forebearers, but banally normal to those who have grown up with it. (Things used to be MUCH worse, kids.)
There's also a moral argument to it. The United States can go back and forth on its full commitment to its basic principles of liberty, democracy and self-determination, but it does generally believe that those values are good things that should be promoted in of themselves. I'm sorry to tell any realpolitik acolytes around here, but countries often do things that are "irrational" because it fits their values.
Careful bro i think lockead martin has just dispached an f35 lighting 2 to your ip address. Hope you're using a vpn, they really don't like peace talk
I think it depends on what business you are in. NATO could be viewed as a USA weapons subscription service that countries sign up to buy from.
It's worth noting that the promotion of "values" itself brings rational benefits in the long term, most obviously in the form of reputation and trust. It's a bit misguided to claim Realpolitik is incompatible with such strategies, unless you assume that all national decision making is invariably short-sighted.
@lasersnake except that except for some dark times in the 60s and 70s our allies have developed their own defense industries without US interference and increased their share of defense exports despite their economies staying the same or shirking as a global power. A US defense vassal is probably false with data.
Seriously. The American arms industry competes directly against companies in other NATO countries, and American companies definitely do not always win, not even for US military contracts. FN took over M16 production from Colt decades back, and Beretta won the contract for the M9. There are so many examples. It's not uncommon for weapons exported by NATO countries to wind up on opposite sides of conflicts.
Amusingly, Colt, the quintessential American gun manufacturer, is now owned by CZUB's holding company.
I remember, back in the 90s, sitting through a weekend conference dedicated to discuss how NATO will dissolve due to the lack of a threat
I think I read a comment somehwere, hat if Putin invades Ukraine in 2027 or 2032 instead, NATO won't be there to stop him. He truly is NATO's best salesman and a master strategist.
Don’t need to go back to the 90s. Just a few years ago wasn’t trump talking about pulling out basically ending the alliance? Not saying NATO was definitely felt as superfluous but certainly a lot of questions were being raised.
Thanks to the master strategist Putin, NATO has become even more relevant these days.
That was a thing as late as 2019, with Macron saying it's effectively dead..
That could still happen if Russia collapses, the USA loves the status quo, the current NATO expansion is short term gain for potential long term loss.
These presentations are consistently on a par with the best of on-line educational services. Since I don't have unlimited time, but seemingly have unlimited interest in so much of the world, the fact that I set aside the time to watch and appreciate Perun's offerings, tells me just how informative and vital they are to me. I feel a sense of gratitude towards the host for the investment of his time and energies in doing these videos. W
Agreed. If all video content online was to end tomorrow. I think I would miss Perun the most
Imo, they are on par with official in person education services too
This is the comment I came here to make ... Perun's weekly drops feel like part of a post grad lecture course, but with stronger jokes. 🙃
But seriously, these presentations are simultaneously equal parts informative, thought provoking, and entertaining ... and they do this while rewarding the audience for already knowing a thing or two about the topic under discussion, and without insulting their intelligence if they have to pause to go Google something real quick, and without any patina of smug pretention (except where such sparks joy).
10/10 ... would rewatch all from the beginning. ❤
@@ihdieselman I might be biased but Feynman lectures would top these but not by much. Feynman won a Nobel Prize so that is a pretty high bar.
Hear hear. This series is well reasoned and presented, grounded in actual factual research and leavened with wry humour. A weekly educational delight.
Thank you for the Masterclass, Perun. With each passing presentation I feel more and more prepared to lead a small nation towards prosperity. 😂
If you ran for any governmental position in Kiwiland, I'd vote for you
I would likewise vote for you, should you ever decide to run for any governmental position in Kiwiland. 😉
Jokes aside, better informed citizens make more discerning voters.
@@EthanDyTioco Glory to Emutopia!
@@pansepot1490 Completely agree. :3
Seriously, Perun, you could collate your videos over the last year+ and make a legit comprehensive guide to international relations. Your analyses are top tier educational content. TY
The Perun collection could easily be a university degree course.
Yes. Educational not professional. Yet.
I’ll let you know how his book is !
Umm I can only imagine…I’ve been saving up time to kick back and get into it .
My son and I talk often but we naturally disagree on a lot . He’s the type that likes to be right about things and I’m the type that has no problem recapping a situation and getting a lot from the recap
I’m about ready to stop playing a game I’ve played for more then 6 years I don’t know ( but.I doubt) A war game might be too much to jump into , I’ll see where I fall ,
Game I’m finishing up is called Mafia City takes time too play . I’ll be leaving in a couple of weeks . I’m making sure players in my clan don’t want stuff and making sure I give if they want .
The current game I’m playing lacks in several ways . I hope I can find a game that has more of what I like .
I've been convinced Putin lost his war on day one because his behavior pushed Finland to join NATO. No matter what happens with Ukraine, Finland will always be a NATO member, and a heavy lifter there at that.
Funny how Russia isn't invading Finland to stop them from joining Nato. It's probably because they're too tied up with Ukraine
The first foot step on Ukrainian land caused Russia to lose the war already.
🤺🤷😉
The failure to take kiev ended the chance for victory in Ukraine.
Russia did not have a contingency plan
If Putin could succeed in bringing down the Ukrainian government, he would have been fine with the trade of losing Finland to NATO. He failed in the former and lost everything.
He lost the war the moment he decided to proceed with invasion after US warned the invasion was imminent
The biggest takeaway for me over the last year is that real power is economic and the will to fight for your beliefs.
I was going to complain that that's relatively modern, but a little more thought points out that what changes is less whether or not you're dealing with economic power, but how you measure it. Today it's a matter of what goodies your factories can produce; before that is how much gold you could raise to pay your troops, and before _that_ it was how much food you could produce to grow soldiers (at this point, they'd usually feed themselves through looting when deployed, although there were exceptions like Chinese punitive expeditions into the steppe.)
Economic power is not everything. Economic power means little if your education system is trash and you can't produce great minds to advance your scientific, technological and industrial sectors. look at some of the arab countries, for example. Big economies, lots of money, but they can't produce anything other than natural resources and even if they produce something, most components are made in the west or east Asia. Also, there are industries out there that few countries control and are capable of maintaining because they are highly complex such as the semiconductor industry.
Economic power is only real power when security has already been established. The US can not, as a matter of practical reality, be invaded by anyone. Since its security is assured, it can focus on its economic power.
@CedarHunt Without economic power, you can't build (or buy) ships, tanks, or planes, much less guns, bullets, or training. Economic power creates security, both because it allows you to fend for yourself and because your trading partners are more likely to care about your status quo, even if it's just a matter of getting back the five bucks you owe them.
@@superbudegu Even in those countries, it is their wealth that lets them buy all their modern military equipment, even if it doesn't buy them the will to fight their country. So the paradigm still holds, it's just that hooking yourself up to a pipe and calling it a day doesn't build sustainability nor continuity.
I am so happy to see that the Philippines was included in the AsiaPacific alliance numbers. They are seriously a key ally to security in that region and the nation itself has remained loyal for years without recognition. I think another benefit for the Philippines is the development of infrastructure that is needed to support American forces which in their case would benefit the Filipino economy. I’m no expert however but examples of Japan and South Korea prove that this is probably the case.
Anyway thank you for all the hard work with these presentations. They are so informative while being entertaining and enjoyable to watch.
Philippines needs unmarked PT boats with torpedoes crewed by passed off fishermen. The commie Chinks need to be sunk. Philippines shouldn't be importing fish...
Actually, they went off the rails under Duterte who was cozying-up with China. New leadership and they're back on track. Now we need India and Mohdi to move away from Russia and join the club. It will take years, they're dependent on Russia for oil and arms and don't trust the US. We're too fickle, lurching from one extreme to another. Trump wants to drop Ukraine and collapse NATO. What would he do vis India if they were an ally? He fawns over Kim il Sung and Putin while S. Korea, Japan, Australia watch in disbelief. So today we're committed to our allies again. Tomorrow?
Still can't quite believe I can watch these lectures without being enrolled in a top tier university 🙏
South Korea is one of the more interesting alliances the US has. Things such as geographical location, public perception, possible threats and all that are of course part of it, what gets me is some of the actual support South Korea has given the US over the years. My favorite example of this is their support of American operations in Vietnam. With the exception of Vietnam vets themselves and people who are well versed in those portions of American and Korean history, I have not met a single person who was aware that South Korea actually sent combat troops to Vietnam. They are always shocked when I then inform them that they were the 2nd largest contributor of soldiers. With only the US sending more. S. Korea sent around 300k. That is a serious commitment. Around 5,000 of them never came home as well.
(Granted, once people start to look at the larger picture in Asia at the time, it is quickly apparent that South Korea was and still is, in a very similar position to South Vietnam. The people I talk to about this have simply never been taught about South Korea's support of the US in any detail... or they were not taught enough to make them remember.)
A lot of American servicemen said S. Korean troops were top notch, very good soldiers.Especially ROK SF troops working along US special forces.I wonder if S.Korean`s have any Vietnam reunions?
@@tedzehnder961 I have heard the same about the Korean troops being quite good. I have always figured that when your capital city is within artillery range of a country that abhors you to the utmost, both the people and the govt. have a serious incentive here.
As for reunions, I bet they have them internally, just like basically everyone else. Though your question made me wonder about international stuff, like American and Korean vets meeting up together. I know that the US in particular has a program in place which helps vets travel to the land(s) they fought in, such as Vietnam and South Korea. But afaik that is done on an individual basis, not in big gatherings. Though it wouldn't surprise me if there were some occasional reunions with specific units or whatnot.
addendum: My father did 2 tours in Vietnam and because of this, I have always been fascinated with the country (it really does have an amazing history). The only place in Asia I wish to visit more, is Japan. When I found out about that program, I tried getting my father to visit Vietnam (as family, I would be able to participate with him in this program iirc). He staunchly refused. Stating simply that he never wants to see Vietnam ever again. All I could say to that was "fair enough". I would imagine this type of sentiment being a major limiting factor on international reunions, all over the place. Let sleeping dogs lie, as they say.
South Korean veterans showed their stuff from the roof tops of Los Angeles in 1992 during the South Korean small business progrom carried out by the residents of South Central LA. Even today "Rooftop Koreans" are invoked and feared during racial riots.
I have. But I've met Korean Marines. And know they were among the most feared combatants in theater during Vietnam. And that their professionalism doesn't appear to have diminished since then. Mine has. I'm too old and broke down to fight in Ukraine or Korea. But the US should. Instead we invaded Afghanistan and Iraq. Which were lost causes. Like Vietnam. Oh well. That's what happens when you burn books and don't invest in education.
@@semperbanksy143 eeeeh iraq is a debatable case it’s been the only successful military intervention that has actually changed which side the iraqis more or less support
Never found a better explanation why the US should be caring about
Europe, Korea, Japan and Taiwan.
I think it really helps that he is in the english language sphere, but has an ousiders perspective on both the US and Europe.
Buffer states. American exceptionalism is still isolationism but very indirect by supporting the buffer states.
There are no buffer states, the Baltic Nations are small but will be defended, no square inches to trade. Meanwhile US Stryker brigades are ready to support the Polish armed divisions from Bavaria.
Indeed a great response to isolationist trolls , "Because over 50% of your wealth comes from open trade with allies as markets and suppliers, or do you want to be 50% poorer?"
@@gerhardkoster9485 Poland is arguably the strongest military in Europe now [behind maybe Turkey in manpower]. Honestly, I dont think the Poles even _need_ our support lol.
This is a great breakdown of US global strategic policy. I've tried, and most often failed, to explain these concepts to my friends that don't understand our involvement in Europe. Now I have a video I can point them to. Not that any of my cretinous friends would ever watch an hour long video on geopolitics, but at least I have something to point at. Cheers from Florida.
Your friends don't want to pay, bleed, and die for wealthy Europeans?
How cretinous of them.
By the way, when are you heading over there to fight?
LOL, The Don't Say Gay State
@@rtqii
So much for free speech.
@@jeckjeck3119 Yep... Sad. 6 week abortion bans, and more and more guns in the streets and school shootings. They ban books, they ban drag, kids are going into body bags.
disgusting
Discussed in my public administration class the value of US associations with countries in military alliances and whether it was worthwhile for America to be involved in them. I wish this video came out sooner- I found it valuable and helpful in understanding various geopolitical interests. Keep up the great work, Perun! :)
at 4:57 you can clearly see the icelandic flag in the NATO force in the baltics, I read somewhere that despite Iceland not having a military they still send support to the eastern flank, civillian communication specialist liaison officers, Public relations and administrative personel etc...
I believe an important Icelandic contribution is geography: they're a great location for an airbase & naval base to keep the Russian navy from breaking out into the Atlantic, to better control the GIUK Gap.
@@WhiskyCanuck very much, but I consider it remarkable that even without a military they stil try to contribute to the eastern flank
The main reason Iceland is in NATO is so it can serve as a base for operations in the area. That's how they ended up winning the cod wars with the UK because they threatened to withdraw from NATO and the US told the UK to cut it out because they didn't need to lose a strategic island over some fishing dispute.
@@user-zy8cy6hn6o TIL there was a war being iceland and the UK called the COD war...
Lemme guess it's the portugese allies who were tasked with finding the name?
Jk i just found that typo funny
Iceland is also obvious naval base.
Quick aside: Japan had removed South Korea from its trading whitelist on August 28, 2019, citing "security concerns" during the brief window of South/North Korea diplomacy. Among the other things it affected was the import of many critical materials of semiconductor production, including fluorinated polyimide, photoresists, and hydrogen fluoride. This spurred South Korean efforts of self-sufficient semi-conductor production, and feelings are still hard this year given as though the matter had been resolved March 23, 2023. One item picked up by the news is how South Korea reinstated Japan into its whitelist before Japan did this year. Tensions exist between allies even more in the Pacific, and in my opinion it is only the US that holds these two culturally opposed countries in a tenuous military/economic partnership.
EDIT: Thanks for the fact checks everyone. I reworded accordingly.
The Koreans and Japanese have some infamously bad blood, with invasions of the archipelago from the peninsula and vice versa.
While there are bad History between both of them, I doubt Japan will just not doing anything when south Korea being invaded as it reduce their allies in the area and also put more pressure on Japan security with north Korea and China. The same with South Korea. as much as they hate Japan due to oppression during WW2 and sengoku period, Japan still is the fastest and closest ally that can give support. As long as both are western oriented, they still need each other
The US and China.
China is a good motivator to hang together.
South East Asia is mostly held together by their shared hatred of China trying to take their land and natural resources. The US just helps keep all those eyes, on the prize.
SK and JP relations have always been rough and will take generations to resolve. Their cultural problems and governmental disimilarities will make this a slow thing as well as an obvious rivalry. However, we can always expect China to keep them together and buy them time to get over their unfortunate past.
Thanks China, you're your worst enemy.
Your knowledge, detail, relatedness, and ability to boil it down and effectively communicate it in plain language without making it come across as being 'dumbed down'....is simply amazing.
Keep it up, good sir
He's a kiwi. Do you even kiwi good ser?
Perun your output is unparalleled. On a platform such as TH-cam, you consistently demonstrate a standard of content creation above and beyond most others.
Wow, this was wonderful. I've often found myself in debate, defending the value of US foreign military policy in broad. While I was familiar with most of the points raised here, the big eye-opener for me was viewing security as a an import/export 'commodity'. This pulls everything together into a fairly coherent whole. Biggest benefit - I can now just point my interlocutors to this single presentation. I could never have developed such a concise, clear, and compelling defense of multilateral security! Thanks again for all the great work.
I used to be against military... now I very much pro it.
I agree that this is the ultimate “why NATO isn’t US imperialism” presentation, but I don’t know if the anti-NATO types would even bother to watch it before whaddabouting more about Iraq.
@@catc8927 its cause the whatabout people are just russian conscript dodgers who see their time being a keyboard warrior is more important
Without the US as a global protector for trade, the economy would not be where it is and regional autocrats would have started world war 3 decades ago.
Aw, come now. I think you could have
As a portuguese citizen i aprove this treaty
"As the entirety of the Ocean belongs to Portugal, any attacks on the North Atlantic sea are bound to trigger article 5"
However, you have to love how Perun pointed out, "If Mexico invades the United States, you may be required to send troops," lol! (5:02)
Which one NATO or Portugal's treaty with the UK.
In my school history lessons 60 years ago our teacher did a series of lessons on the nations of Europe. First fact about Portugal? “England’s oldest ally” Hooray for that. Compare and contrast with the much more modern treaty with France “The Entente Cordial”. The title hints at friendship but popular opinion generally likes Portugal but is not very cordial about the French. We fought two world wars with them but many British people don’t like France much.
Being fucked by our Amigos de Peniche since 1386.
This reminds me of MacArthur's inability to fully understand or leverage the experience and capabilities of Allied forces during WW2. It takes a special kind of leader to pull together a coalition of allies into an effective fighting force that is more than the sum of its parts. (US citizen here and no fan of Mac). Hubris is not an effective characteristic of exceptionalism in any endeavor. It is however human. Thankfully we are seeing more of this attitude right now from RU.
During WW2 MacArthur did alright, his real failures in that regard were as Supreme Allied Commander in Korea.
@@Nmille98 Alright is a pretty poor standard given the resources eventually at his disposal. Even in Korea, he had strong moments, but his biggest shortcomings were always in how he failed to work effectively and consistently with others.
I will always give him and the men under him credit for their successes, but I will also call out every moment his ego got in the way of even better results.
@@Nmille98 The Japanese were enemy number 3, after the Limeys and Nimitz. He really wasn't that great.
@@andrueurbane7361 It is a pretty significant failing in a commander, especially at that level, what with people management being at the core of what leadership is, someone unwilling or unable to understand what their people can do fails at the first hurdle of directing them to perform effectively.
@@Nmille98 More than Alright , he did very very well - for himself.
TH-cam channel
Unauthorized History of the Pacific War Podcast
They have some opinions about his actions..heavy on the naval side.
They do correlate quite well with the opinion of my uncle and fellow survivors who served in the Australian Army in New Guinea and Bougainville 42-45.
Episode 103: The Legend of Dugout Doug
Episode 204: Green Hell-New Guinea from Kokoda to Buna-Gona with Jon Parshall
You answered a question I didn't know I had. You've explained what advantages the US gains by championing NATO. Thank you.
"Pay up or go back to the bronze age." LMAO. As a Canadian mining guy I must say that my beer almost came out of my nose on that one. I would 100% support your efforts to start a cartel. Iron ore, in the list of metal ores is after all the most profitable to produce. The Labrador Trough still has another 500 good years worth of reserves in it at least.🤣🤣🤣
I hope the Easter Bunny was good to you.
Ave and Perun to the hockey rugby mashup 🍻
Egypt: "Not again. I did not like what happened last time."
Perun is really a very good teacher apart from a profound knowledge, as for example remenbering that the anglo-portuguese alliance iis the oldest in the world, something known only by a coiple of people.
Congratulations from Portugal, your presentations should be mandatory to a lot of the professional commentators.
Slava Ukraine
Only a couple of people? The British are always proudly talking about that vassalization deal...
Now I feel very validated 😊 because I knew that and I'm not even a native English speaker or Portuguese.
@@filipe5722 Do you really think it's vassalisation? It's helped protect Portugal from significant European powes like Spain and France.
@@awf6554 Yes, absolutely. And the funny thing is that you can't even say that you should have let them take over Portugal, since keeping Iberia disunited was the only goal of the alliance for England.
@@filipe5722 Interesting perspective.There are parts of Spain that consider themselves to be vassals of Madrid I think. Are you Portuguese?
The fact he called out Scott Ritter's Russian Propaganda made me love this channel even more. ❤❤
As a Swede, I approve of the Iron Cartel idea.
Also as a Swede: Hell yeah! 😁
Of course, you'd still have to abide by the free movement of goods inside the EU. :)
@@seneca983 Of course! This would just measure production!
the iron cartel has already made a large blunder
most steel can be and is recycled
Excellent presentation as usual. Plenty of food for thought if you are a US citizen. I can say with confidence that Finland and Sweden are far from a drain on NATO or the USA, but really make a very significant contribution to peace and prosperity for Europe and the US.
The USA has been asking other NATO members over and over to build up and improve their own militaries so that the USA could divert funding away from its own military to focus on other things such as civilian infrastructure within the USA.
In my opinion, the USA actually IS an empire, albeit a bizarre case in that it is a reluctant one that doesn’t like being an empire.
The problem is that the U.S. Navy HAS to patrol the world’s oceans in order to protect global shipping, in order to sustain its own economy as well as those of other countries (at those countries’ request, since said countries either lack the capacity or the will to do it themselves) and there ARE many countries that legitimately want U.S. military bases to be stationed close to them.
Being an empire actually sucks. The European powers like Britain, France, Spain and the Netherlands all eventually reached a point where their colonies were costing them more than the benefits could off-set.
And America is likely not an exception in this regard.
In my opinion, the country to really watch now is India.
I believe that in time, perhaps even in the next few decades, India could become a global superpower, not just economically but also militarily.
It has the potential, the motivation (more than half the population of India are young, while China is suffering from having an aging population and very low fertility rates), and perhaps most importantly, it has major backing and support; the USA is actually actively supporting and investing in Indian businesses and Indian economic growth.
And to me that makes sense; there is money to be made for both sides, and both countries would want to keep China in check.
For example, the USA spends a huge amount of money patrolling the Indian Ocean. If India could take over the job, the USA could then take that money and spend it on other things like American civilian industries.
@@CMY187 as a European, I fully agree that Europeans *_ought_* to pay for rebuilding their defence forces to such a level that American _weapon deliveries_ or troops should no longer be required in case of a war on European soil. It's nice that the US had spare stuff in their armories, but it's truly embarrasing that we should appear dependent on it.
But isn't this a clear sign of failed US diplomacy? (well, honestly, that's intended as a rhetorical question 😉)
Feel free to continue blaming us. You do that rightfully. But don't forget to consider how you can improve the working of your own government, because that effects your strategic efficiency elsewhere too, for instance in East Asia.
@@jmolofsson I’m from Singapore, and unfortunately it is an island with zero natural resources, complete dependence on its neighbours (we can’t even produce our own WATER), and a population that is almost completely depoliticised and ignorant of, well, everything.
In my opinion, the USA absolutely needs to find a way to be able to reduce the need for it to keep having to be the ‘Arsenal of Democracy’.
And it seems that it’s chosen strategy to solving that problem is to invest in the growth of India.
India wouldn’t necessarily become a staunch U.S. ally, but more than a few Americans have said that they like and support the idea of another democratic superpower that would be opposed to the People’s Republic of China.
@@CMY187 oh, sorry!
I *_should_* have remembered that!
I've noticed your comments (approvingly!) for a long time, and you had made that clear already. But I forgot.
😪
@@jmolofsson I Like how it's not like Russia will invade Poland and they just cant invade Ukraine they are not three for even one European country let alone Nato as a whole. China does not want to and is too far away.
So short of the US doing a full 180 going Fashist and invading Europe. Ther is no force on this planet that could take on all of NATO.
I died at BUSCA, especially the motto. I know it was a joke, but I wouldn't get mad if it were to become true 😆
I've always known that a US alliance is best - explaining it to naysayers impossible for me. Thanks for putting it together and making your audience a little bit smarter every week.
This is why I tell people who think we should "stay out of other countries' business, and leave NATO" they're showing their total ignorance of international geopolitics.
Reminder that Excalibur was jointly developed by the US and Sweden.
Smaller powers always have something they can bring to the table.
Sweden has their fingers in a lot of advanced weapons systems. Excalibur, BONUS, NLAW, Meteor, IRIS-T, RBS15, Taurus KEPD 350, CV90 etc. We build our own AEW&C, Fighter Jets, Submarines, Artillery and much more. SAABs electronic warfare suite are rumored to be extremely powerful, the old fighter link was more powerful than Natos Link16.
I think the people who will be most happy when Sweden joins Nato are the shareholders of SAAB, as that will finally make them compete for orders on more equal terms.
@@MrJamesBananayeah Sweden has always been good at military. Regardless if they were in their neutral or aggressive stages.
I served in the ROK, 85-87, we left the DMZ in 91, the ROKA are very capable forces
ROK?
@@Edithae Republic of Korea, aka South Korea.
I absolutely agree. Often overlooked, but it’s huge, capable and supported by insanely developer and efficient military industry. That’s why Poland goes for a very close ties with Seoul. And I couldn’t be more for that!
ROK just can't afford to have weak military.
ROKA is probably one of the best ground forces in the world. Definitely top 10, if not top 5.
It's always a good sign for a channel when other channels keep name-dropping you in a good way. Keep up the good work , mate, your content is top tier
Beau of the fifth column for me
@@LIL-RED-BIRD Yeah Beau did mention him. I got here a year ago when he switched from gaming videos to Ukraine war and geopolitical analysis.
@@LIL-RED-BIRD wait, when did Beau name drop Perun? I don't remember that
@@Executioner9000 it was some time ago like around the year mark.
Iirc it was “ there is a gamer channel that I follow that does the best analysis of the war that I’ve seen/heard so far”
I just wrote a comment using the same phrase "top-tier" scrolling down the page on my way here I saw it a bunch of times... WTF... Are we simping in sympathy or something? lol...
Wow! A discussion nearly equivalent to a master class in international relations, alliances, and finances! And far more relevant than any of the classes on that I had in college. Thank you for this!
Last time I was this early I thought Russia was a superpower.
Didd you fall asleep in 1990 n just wake up?....🤔
@@VajrahahaShunyata some of us do need a nap this long
@@VajrahahaShunyata Nothing wrong with overestimating your opponent. Smarter than underestimating them
@@stuts2371mutual overestimation of opponents is what gave us the nuclear arms race of the cold war - there is definite danger in exaggerating your enemy's potential
@@hieronymusbutts7349 That's a side effect of war in general that has nothing to do with my point that we shouldn't underestimate our enemies
1:01:22 - I was curious why people in Slovakia, Montenegro, and Bulgaria are only lukewarmly pro-NATO, so I looked it up.
The historic reasons for anti-NATO or pro-Russian bias: Ethnic Serbs in Montenegro remember the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia negatively. The Bulgarians see Russia as a liberator after the Russians booted the Ottoman Empire out of Bulgaria in 1878. Slovakia benefitted from USSR help with industrialization.
The more current problem is serious Kremlin propaganda efforts in all of these countries. Many Bulgarians are fluent in Russian, so they find Russian sources more accessible. And the troll farms plus the rise of pro-Kremlin politicians in those countries (with a literal Russian-backed coup attempt in Montenegro in 2016) don’t help either.
Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has undone some of the hard work of his trolls, though. In all three of these countries, after Feb 2022, support for NATO rose sharply and the view of Russia and Putin has become more negative. It’s hard to keep arguing that the US is an imperialist and Russia is a protector when the former is shipping planeloads of arms to Ukraine and the latter has “annexed” four oblasts of Ukraine, committed atrocities in Bucha, and bombed Mariupol off the face of the earth.
You definitely have to do a video on BRICS. People tend to see it as the end of the West
Yeah, clueless people.
@Robert Martin People see it as the rise of a new economic order with a currency standard not based on the US dollar. It's honestly mind blowing to see the absolute crap some people spew with barely any understanding of economic realities.
I love this video. I was recently telling a Ukrainian online, who was thanking USA, that we would be a lot less scary to tyrannical dictators without the entirety of Europe having our backs. They are as important to global peace as we are, no matter their economical or military might, the totality of NATO is what makes the world go round as peacefully as it does.
The main thing that makes the US military machine work so well is a massive logistics network that means it can operate massive forces almost anywhere in the world, and the various security alliances it's in underpin that.
One of the most important things about the US is that it's simultaneously able and willing to facilitate enormous alliances based on shared economic interest. Part of this is the fact that, being made of everyone, fantastic at limiting its own casualties, and generally pragmatic, Americans tend not to retain bad blood with anyone after the end of a conflict. Europe is very capable as a unit, but only a power half a world away with no patience for its internal conflicts could have brought it together.
@@ikkinwithattitude That's an interesting point and strange truth I hadn't thought of about the no bad blood. I think that's part of why I as an American find Russia so, well among many other things, exasperating. Like , why are you so obsessed??! Gah! We're so done.
A Saturday release, excellent!🎉
The UK/Portugal marriage that still affected international events 600 years later is one of history's great power couples.
When her family really, *really* likes you...
I adore content like this because it provides me a true perspective of why some thing are the way they are. For the average person, it is really difficult to truly understand the scale and value of large alliance systems even from a purely military value. The additional economic benefits explained here provide fascinating details about how the US exerts so much soft power.
Excellent work.
@WO2 The average person is expert in only a few fields so services like YT and especially people like Perun are a treasure and a boon to humanity
(In other news: Why 4? Why not 6? 6 is much easier.. Is it because of what pops up in Wikipedia if you go to the WO2 page?)
@@irgendwieanders2121 look at how WO2 is structured.
@@tungstenivoxide2407 I'll have to wait until my Hollemann-Wiberg is back home...
Looking at what I did find easily on the web, I don't get it, maybe a thick book will help the thickheaded guy 🙂
@@irgendwieanders2121
If you don't spend a lot of time online the reference might not be obvious. I'll explain it below.
Tungsten(IV) Oxide is WO2 and has a linear arrangement that appears similar to this: O=W=O
OwO (and UwU) are emoticons used commonly online and are typically associated with anime fans ("weebs") and furries. My name is therefore a subtly and extremely nerdy reference these communities, though I'm not much of a weeb and very much a furry.
I hope that clears things up, if this raises more questions for you I can do my best to try and answer them.
@@tungstenivoxide2407 🤯
No, thanks, now I get it
That is nerd², I think and I only have the chemistry nerd perspective here ⚗.
Thanks for sharing 😻 and:
Respect!
A vid on ROC/Taiwan military history and modernization would be amazing
Australian government says “no can do” - sadly. ^^ ❤️
Edit: Since Perun’s “PRC military modernization” video was OK to make, maaaaaybe Taiwan’s military modernization video would be OK to make, too? 🤷♂️🏆
@@elektrotehnik94 wtf? Is Australia that cringe and Auth? What's the deal?
@@conserva-chan2735 Stralia has been surprisingly authoritarian about a lot of weird things, from ultra strict and ineffective corona measures to censoring the internet
@CC 07 the more I learn about the British commonwealth countries and their politics/political systems, the more pride I take in the Declaration of Independence
I think Perun has some connections to the Australian military so they naturally have veto rights over what he discusses.
This is normal for any workplace. Corporate secrets need to be guarded carefully.
Thanks to Perun for another brilliant, thought-provoking essay on alliances, alliance history and theory and the alliance structure of the US. The specialty here is the ability to "look under the hood" of things as they are in order to understand why they are and how they operate. Kudos to Perun for another great video!🥇
As an Australian l am very interested in the Iron Ore Cartel ( IOC) concept.
Good idea. We can be rich as Arab sheiks mate
Add in your coal and we could “really put the screws” to China
@@LIL-RED-BIRD I think 🤔 a meeting with the heads of the unionists of various companies could be a good idea . Because the workers will profit and it will force a cartel system between various countries
There's no educational channel (and I do count this channel as educational) that holds a candle to your amazingly thorough, professional and, most of all, entertaining analyses of such dense and dry topics. This video was easy to follow, had excellent examples of the concepts it analyzed, and your use of bits of humor and sarcasm throughout to make it more palatable are spot-on. Every time you drop a video, it's one of the highlights of my week. Keep up the amazing work.
'See it isn't Russia I gave it a diff Flag...........' dying
I listen to (part of) these in the shower and had to open the curtain and look at the map. Lol Australian blunt sarcasm is the best.
Saturday release? Is it Christmas already?
Thanks Man, quality as always!
Well, I think that there is something both pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian can easily agree upon: Putin is a master strategist.
For pro-Russian, he is so because... wel, because he says so.
For pro-Ukrainian, he is so because what he achieved in terms of solidifying NATO and EU, convincing neutral countries (Finland and Sweden) to join NATO and even suggesting his former Asian allies to go China-way.
Thanks a lot, Vlad!
This presentation is as close to what America's political leaders need to produce as anything I have ever seen, a foreign policy/foreign aid profit and loss statement. Our political leaders, here in Australia as well as in the U.S., express our foreign policy in vague terms at best. The Ukraine war presents a unique opportunity to examine the actual cost of arming Ukraine vs. the potential cost of defending Poland, or Finland, or both. What would be the cost of actually providing sufficient aid and assistance to El Salvador, Guatemala, et. al. versus the expense of border guards, detention facilities, amnesty processing, public assistance, etc. To my knowledge, it has never actually been done and for the life of me I can not understand why. I am truly grateful for you, Perun, for your perspective and your expertise.
Thank you! The early release is appreciated.
Saturday morning coffee and a Perun video, feels good man
What can be more beautiful than that.
I just found your videos after hearing your name mentioned by another journalist covering Ukraine.
Absolutely top notch information. Your cadence and use of humor sporadically yet effectively is engaging but not distracting. I especially appreciate the precise way you utilize the building block (overview>dissection>simplified practical example>repeat) style. It’s quality technical instruction!
Before the invasion of Ukraine, I hadn't dedicated 5 minutes of my life to understanding military science and strategy. You are one of the very few people here on YT who sound both very knowledgeable and super partes. We are all lucky to have you. I regret that, living in Italy, I don't know enough English speaking people to be able to recommend you
Turn on Subtitles on the video, then go to Settings cog and Autotranslate into the desired language. Not perfect, but one is usually able to guess what that mistranslated words are supposed to be.
@@bpomowe224 I knew that, tho I've never tried it. However, asking someone to sit through one+ hour of reading subtitles is rather hard, and I think he/she would miss that biting sarcasm that makes it fun too
@@laurap239 Matter of practice I guess, only thing dubbed here in Sweden is for children not yet expected to read.
Everything else relies on subtitles.
Some wittiness might be lost in the translation, but that's usually compensated with the sometimes hilarious mistranslations instead ;)
Portugal, you've been a real one for nearly 700 years. Lets grab a beer.
There's this joke after Finland's ascention to NATO: since Sweden right now is completely surrounded by NATO, Russia is going to declare a "special military operation" to "save" them. After all, it all went so smoothly in Ukraine, why not spread "freedom" in Scandinavia, too?
Yeah. Ruzzian wet dream. Finland is 1 million men armed to teeth with all the possible supplies it ever needs. Thanks to Nato. Ruzzian army needs to be over 10 million strong, but there is not even enough supplies to support the current joke of an army. Finland doesn’t hesitate to use its full force to protect itself.
And this is how Russia will become a Scandinavian country again - Ruled by a French-descended King.
They can claim Sweden as Russian heritage by right of the Scandinavian roots of Kievan Rus. Makes about as much sense as saying they have a right to conquer Ukraine because of their common roots.
@@6236003 very few people are aware of the Scandinavian roots of the Kievan Rus which later became Russia. Moscow was just a village with cows when Kyiv had already been the center of power for 800 years. Ukraine could (but won't) justify invading Russia on the basis of "you were once part of our empire."
@@jeffreyklute8390 what Empire? Kiev was conquered by the north while the reso of the southern lands was full of semi-nomadic savages that Russians mostly ignored before such became an arming hand of Poland and Ottomans. Then, those savages very slowly but surely integrated into Russia.
This was one of the most interesting and educational videos you've done so far.
One of your better episodes IMO. An extremely useful resource that I can use to reply to a certain type of American especially but also some British and German types that need to hear this explanation of their own national self interest.
Thank you for addressing proliferation, it's a topic that's criminally underrepresented when talking about war or defence.
As a Magic The Gathering player, I think proliferation is a really awful strategy and wish any cards that caused it were banned.
I feel much safer and more secure, thanks to Perun.
Dear PERUN, technical or not, from your videos I have learned so much more about parts of the international society , that I never knew (of) before. And 'this whole Western thingy' - in wich I live - seems much less fragile than others have tried to make it out. I no longer feel that I stand defenceless against e.g. 'the professionel alarmists of the press and politics'.
So, thanks again.
Regarding the fragility of the western alliance: One major issue he only mentioned in passing in the video is internal US politics. While they aren't the sole provider of security, they still carry a large part. And if DeSantis or Trump win the next US elections, that relationship might change drastically.
@@togamid Neither have expressed a desire to pull out of NATO. You're just mad because Trump criticized your defense spending. Or do you mean that Europe would recoil in horror? Good luck getting Poland and eastern Europe to go along with that!
@@digitalnomad9985 I'm terrified because a DeSantis US would actively work towards and probably succeed in dismantling the US democracy.
@@digitalnomad9985 Actually, Trump did want to drop out of NATO and the alliance with South Korea if he won in 2020.
more like domesticated as loyal slave of NATO.
A marriage resulting in hundreds of years of alliance, the longest in the world of international politics.
Relationship goals.
Coerce partner to sign a trade deal that will make them completely financially dependent on you and kill any prospect of independent development.
Relationship goals.
@@filipe5722 I already said marriage, who do you repeat? How my wife spends my money is entirely her business.
The Netherlands made a joke video asking Russians to participate in a referendum to have Russia be annexed by the Netherlands, claiming (jokingly) that the Dutch have a legitimate claim due to a marriage of a Russian princess to a Dutch ruler.
@@VeilingSun I see you are stuck in the time where abuse marriages were the 'good old times'.
@@CMY187 Yeah, that was during the period where tons of countries, especially those in the EU, were making fun of Russia’s annexation proclamations, usually by claiming to have annexed Kaliningrad because they ran a referendum and everyone was super into it. Pinky promise! Heh 😂
Thank you for the education! I'm glad you decided to depart from your more "usual" themes for this, and look forward to your next departure. You have effectively packed a university level class into 1 1/2 hours, and made this complex topic understandable. Much appreciated. 👍
I laughed more during this hour-long PowerPoint than during most of the rest of this year. Thank you.
Totally not Russia
@@chrisb9143 "see I gave it it's own flag" 😂
chin up mate, hopefully there will be things to be happy about soon
@@evilbron666 Thanks Evil Bro N666 :P.
But really, thank you. It's been a bad year for me, but hey, the sun is coming up tomorrow too. A new day, another chance. I'll keep going, and I hope you do too.
@@tomkelley4119 That's the idea. Today may suck, but that doesn't mean tomorrow will.
I'm here for my weekly Aussie/ Polish MANPAD hosted PowerPoint presentation.
Great video, as always! Don't hold yourself to only technical topics, things like this are just as important, if not more
Perun i absolutely love every single video. I watch every week and check on sundays multiple times until its released. The saturday release was a treat. Thank you and God bless, Happy Easter Sunday to you.
Finland brought a lot of experience to NATO about fighting Russia.
From there nazi days .
Many corpses to use as examples
and the Russians are still using the same equipment
tbf... so did Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania..
We have fought russia in winter... and WON!
Poles were advising US how to defeat Russia as far as 70's...
By far the best strategic analysis of the Ukraine-Russian war on the Internet. Thank you, Perun.
One of your better ones yet again, thank you! Please do keep the macro level content coming (even at the expense of the technical toys based level), this is where you are best!
As an American I appreciate you publishing this. Thank you.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to detail. I literally wait all week for the next one!
From the USA’s viewpoint, forming a huge defensive alliance like NATO is in the long run much cheaper if it precludes getting sucked into yet another costly and tragic Eurasian war as it did twice in the 20th Century. Better to always be prepared for war and preposition forces in NATO countries rather than getting your merchant marine sunk again crossing the ocean to get to the fight.
This stuff is pure gold and I don’t really think it matters what topics you cover, I’ll be watching!
Mate that was like a window into a different world, you have an excellent educational style. Thank you!
I can't believe you didn't even mention NAFO, the most powerful military/fella organisation the world has ever seen
The silent professionals.
In defence of Perun I have to mention that he did indeed mention NAFO in one of the recent videos.
Imagine being in a competition to psyop Russia and your oponent is NAFO
@@chrisb9143 "How many of these fucking Cartoon dogs ARE THERE!!!!!???"
As silly as it may sound--I think Perun should do a video not on NATO expansion but on NAFO expansion. Or, more generally, how orgs like NAFO have reshaped the war and the information environment. It's totally new, and I'd think it'd be a great topic.
Nafo?
@@notusneo north atlantic fella organization
@@notusneo It's a grassroots counter-propaganda group that gathers donations for Ukraine and trolls pro-Russia mouthpieces.
Fellas united in our time of need...
Heroes.
@@notusneo NAFO is basically an internet movement to counter Russian disinfo and propaganda.
Thank you for putting this together for us. I appreciate the way you present these concepts.
I can’t believe I hang on every word for over an hour. Brilliant.
While geography would argue thither US can "walk away" from the rest of the world, the reality is that every major war from the 9 years war (1692- 1702/AKA King Billy's War) through WWII has washed up on the US shores and ultimately involved the US as an active combatant. While the US may want to leave the rest of the world alone, the rest of world will not leave the US alone, at least based upon past history.
To be fair until Canada became independent, the US has bordered a European power.
This day and age though, the US will never be an isolation power, too much money in defence and no political party will dare change that.
The amount of work you put into your analysis is impressive and admirable.
Very happy you are branching out a bit. I hope you continue. Thanks @Perun!
Thanks Perun! That was very educational!
After the russian grand strategy being such a hit, this is a good subject to tackle.
Best Powerpoint slides EVER. Seriously well done as always Perun, excellent job sir!
Perun
Thank you again for your time. Your research and analysis is always a blast. Thanks W
Thank you for your presentation. I am from the US. I have been listening to you for a while now and have found you to be thought provoking and honest. Both of which are to be admired. Thank you again.
What a beautiful topic, I'm sure the vatniks will come out of the woodwork for this one.
Vatniks mostly don't know English.
Interesting video. Perhaps also a useful video, considering how loud the US isolationists / "surrenderists" are becoming on US cable and youtube news sites.
Peaceniks, fellow travelers, and useful idiots.
You mean people who can count?
@@timthetiny7538
To 69:/.
I was in the ditch NATO camp when the Germans were content to maintain a completely noncredible military and slob Russian pipelines. When Trump told them to stop buying Russian gas because they were becoming dependent on Moscow they laughed in his face. I thought why defend people who don't care to defend themselves? Now that the Euros are getting their act together (for the most part) and we now have Finland I'm content.
@@6236003 Germany has a lot to apologise for. Other parts of Nato are more reliable, seeing Poland rise to the occassion has been a pleasant sight.
I enjoy your videos. They are one of my primary sources of information for the war in Ukraine and related topics. Normally I would not be interested in this subject matter in general, but you make it interesting and I watch primarily because of your speaking style. I also appreciate your sense of humor. Just enough, not over the top, or forced. Humor really helps make otherwise tedious material entertaining. It’s a great teaching style. I’m very impressed. Keep up the excellent work!
Perun, I love EVERY topic you cover. Technical analysis about anything to do with economics or politics is really really interesting!!
"A group of humans is more formidable than any given individual."
So what your saying is
Apes together strong
Ugh, ugh, bam bam.
Also it enables specialisation.
Considering the topic and just how many nuanced views there are with all the various subsets of the topic, that was an outstanding overview!
Back to the bronze age. Now that's an original thought! 😄
Now, seriously, thank you so much for your videos. Their broad perspectives and realistic approach make it worth the time spent listening!
I'd just like to point out the USA paid Canada to demilitarize with trade deals, military integration etc. They have always wanted a demilitarized North America so they can focus power elsewhere. We see that an ally is a stronger friend than an annexed territory. Look at other countries that were annexed and you see cultures dragging their feet and detering progress of the conqueror. Empires rise and fall but alliances seem to hold far longer and with far less expenditure. Despite what people call it the USA isn't an empire. They're a superpower only by alliances and support from the nations of the world on goodwill. They could have annexed territory in the big wars but they liberated instead. Countries proud of their independant acheivements share them with their friends.