Article 5 - Does anyone care right now?

It has been a nice week, weather wise that is, but just a bit cold. On other fronts there have been quite some upheavals, I’d say. With Trumpy boyo indicating “If they don’t pay, we won’t help them”, which could mean almost anything from not aiding Ukraine to not honouring Article 5 of the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) commitment. Its central purpose is set out in Article 5 of the Treaty, which says that an “armed attack against one member shall be considered an attack against them all”. So, whatever the president of the US meant it did not sound too good. However, he is very much in favour of the rather blunt statements that are designed to ruffle feathers. Pretty evident throughout the ill-tempered White House meeting with the Ukranian president. In any case there were many ruffled feathers in European capitals. From equally blunt words from Paris to the mealy sort of stuff that comes out of London nowadays. It is obvious PM Starmer wants to play both sides. Well, good luck to him as one wrong word will set off the tax levies promised by the US administration. Rather interesting how this will develop. In the meantime the autocratic nations are smiling and counting their winnings but whether it will continue remains to be seen. I do think Europe has woken up and not only that but are looking at ways to free up some £800 billion! That might be unattainable in the short term viewing the deplorable state of national finances but it has the effect of increasing defence spending, increases not seen for quite some time. Also the plan to station foreign troops, probably French and UK troops, in Ukraine might have legs. Although the usual Russian cr*p stated that it would be a declaration of war. It shows the level of incompetence and paranoia in the Kremlin. It ought to be said, there is only one country that is at war and that is Russia. They still have not understood that trading their undeniable resources is so much more profitable. Other countries, like the European needs for gas, oil, and many other elements like metals would be far more effective in their need for dominance. The problem as always is that once people have set up an empire, they want to keep it and enlarge it come what may. In the end as has been shown time and time again, it doesn’t work.

I just wonder if the European heads of State really understand what is going on. As said by many now, the US is really short of cash. That will be biting them in the bum before too long. Especially when the budget has to be signed off and the Democrats will not comply. As already happened before the whole apparatus will come to a standstill, people won’t get paid and cherished projects will be halted or even abandoned. So, there is some pressure on Mr President. Whether what his dalliance with taxing imports will do remains to be seen. I don’t think it will make much difference except it will increase prices across the board. The American people are just waiting for that and applauding the Trump administration for their astuteness on the world stage, not. In any case there will be a taxation war brewing which we have not seen for some time. Despite all the hard words I do believe the US is weakening its position. In fact it is them who will lose the most. Their industries won’t be happy! So watch this space. The word impeachment is beginning to sound louder.