Reply to: Should the UK still protect Europe?

[BlasterBates]

I'm gonna have to get pedantic.

WWII didn't end until Germany was re-unified in the 80s. Up till that point there was no Germany to make peace with (that was on QI so must be true).

Britain is an island, that encompasses Englad, Wales and (most of) Scotland.
I think you mean Gib/Cyrpus is part of the UK.

Not quite. Giobraltar is a British Overseas Territory. This is different to being part ofg the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Cyprus is considerably more complex but most defintely not British.

The bases in Cyprus are on British sovereign territory. It was a condition for Cyprus to get its independence from Britain.

Cyprus–United Kingdom relations - Wikipedia

The two countries now enjoy warm relations, however the continuing British sovereignty of the Akrotiri and Dhekelia Sovereign Base Areas has continued to divide Cypriots.

The British aren't there to defend Europe, they're there for British interests.

[Lance]

WW2 ended in 1945.

Gibralter is part of Britain, and so is a bit of Cyprus.

I'm gonna have to get pedantic.

WWII didn't end until Germany was re-unified in the 80s. Up till that point there was no Germany to make peace with (that was on QI so must be true).

Britain is an island, that encompasses Englad, Wales and (most of) Scotland.
I think you mean Gib/Cyrpus is part of the UK.

Not quite. Giobraltar is a British Overseas Territory. This is different to being part ofg the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Cyprus is considerably more complex but most defintely not British.

[BlasterBates]

The troops are gone. The weaponry and equipment is stockpiled in Germany.

The theory being that they can deploy rapidly from bases in the UK, for example Catterick, if required.

Is that a good idea and will it work? I'm not a military strategist and so I don't know. I do know that if it's needed and doesn't work then we'll all be sorry.

But again you are just avoiding answering the simple YES/NO question that I asked you. Do you think countries should meet their commitments?

No, because it means I don't have to pay as much tax and the UK won't withdraw its weaponry.

Boris is planning to increase taxes, so there will be plenty of money available.

[tomtomagain]

not really, the bases will be gone by the end of the year

The troops are gone. The weaponry and equipment is stockpiled in Germany.

The theory being that they can deploy rapidly from bases in the UK, for example Catterick, if required.

Is that a good idea and will it work? I'm not a military strategist and so I don't know. I do know that if it's needed and doesn't work then we'll all be sorry.

But again you are just avoiding answering the simple YES/NO question that I asked you. Do you think countries should meet their commitments?

[BlasterBates]

Still proved you were spouting crap, again.

not really, the bases will be gone by the end of the year

[Zigenare]

oh yeah

Almost all British troops to be pulled out of Germany by 2020



Is that what you call a base?

Still proved you were spouting crap, again.

[BlasterBates]

and Cyprus, Malta, Gibraltar.

WW2 ended in 1945.

Gibralter is part of Britain, and so is a bit of Cyprus.

[BlasterBates]

Has anyone see the aircraft carrier?

[BlasterBates]

Just thought I'd rub it in about Germany...

oh yeah

Almost all British troops to be pulled out of Germany by 2020

The defence ministry said it would keep around 185 army personnel and 60 defence ministry civilians in Germany once all the other units leave.

Is that what you call a base?

[darmstadt]

and Cyprus, Malta, Gibraltar.

None in Malta sonce 1979 and even the link that Zigenare doesn't mention the country

[darmstadt]

Just thought I'd rub it in about Germany...

What, this bit?

With the announcement of the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) of 2010, the Government stated that it would rebase the British Army from Germany to the UK by 2020. In-line with this the re-basing has now been completed and the surplus estate is being handed back to the German authorities.

Only one NAAFI left at the moment and presumably BFBS will disappear soon which is a shame as I listen to it while working up north, it's also much, much better than AFN...

[Zigenare]

and Cyprus, Malta, Gibraltar.

Just thought I'd rub it in about Germany...

[BR14]

<ahem>Germany | The British Army

Just saying.

and Cyprus, Malta, Gibraltar.

[Zigenare]

The Europeans pay the US for their bases in Europe, so Trump won't be going anywhere.

There are no UK bases in Europe.

<ahem>Germany | The British Army

Just saying.

[tomtomagain]

In any case what is it the UK is protecting Europe against?

The only country that has invoked article 5 is the US.

Banging on about commitments is nothing more than trying to extort a bit more money from other countries. The US doesn't spend 2% on defence because it is diligently keeping to its NATO commitments, it spends on defence for its own National interest.

If Trump wanted to spend 1% GDP on defence he won't be asking anyone.

Well, that's completely irrelevant information.

My question was: Do you think countries should stand by their commitments?

Countries in NATO commit to spending 2% of GDP on defence. Only a small number of the members meet their commitment.


Hint : It requires a YES/NO response.