idk i dont think the EU' forces have the nutts anymore

maybe france but everyone esle is a laughable joke

They just might if Russia starts moving on their interests. At the very least they'll start funding groups to fight the Russians

i mean poooland maybe but everyone esle would get rekted by russia

There's also the question of how the Russians get to Africa.

syria

easy

Does not border Africa

They could maybe use their Med ports, but that'd be a big juicy target for "rebels"

true but how the rebel going to attack them

they can barely keep there own counties inline

With foreign assistance, of course

true gotta bring freedom and get that oil

😉

Tiny economy, dwindling population with more abortions than births, but no guys they're totes mcgoats the next superpower.

Only one aircraft carrier that was basically obsolete when it first came out, submarine tech that hasn't progressed since the cold war. We can bottle them up in Europe pretty easily. Their only advantage over us is the number of nukes they have. But if they get desperate enough to use those, it's game over for everyone.

There's also the distinct possibility that the Chinese, who don't really like the Russians, see where the wind is blowing and hit Russia's soft underbelly while most of their military is preoccupied with NATO forces in Europe.

They could only really be dangerous joined up with China, because they have very professional and well trained troops.

But I doubt the Chinese want to shackle themselves to the shambling edifice of Russian dick measuring if they don't have to.

At the very least, I think they'll probably be a neutral party if shit hits the fan. That would be the smart thing to do.

As in, they'd only be a worry in a war with China.

They have very professional soldiers who could be used to train up the Chinese military.

well, they'd have to start doing that well before hand. a well-trained military doesn't just spring up out of nowhere

even Von Seekt's 100,000, as impressive a feat as it was, took advantage of long German traditions of military organization to make what was basically an instant army, just add conscripts.

the Russians also have to seriously reconsider their military strategy. they can't rely on force of numbers anymore. it would behoove them to switch to giving the individual fighting man better equipment and training, and while it seems that they've been at least attempting this, their efforts have been far from what I'd call a true success. they just haven't had the resources to shift gears like that, and I doubt they'll be able to shift quickly enough to be ready for a major war against the West before their population troubles get too bad.

I'm aware it takes time to train soldiers. What I'm saying is that training and professionalism would be the asset they would offer as allies.

I think in that kind of conflict it's about 75/25 of china just staying out of it vs siding with the US.

They view this time as their star rising, and they would love to see the US and Russia damage each other as much as possible.

If it ever came to blows I'd go as far as to say it's likely China would use espionage to *prolong* the conflict to weaken all parties as much as possible. While officially staying out of it/doing humanitarian stuff with great optics to come out as the real winner.

kind of like what guys like Truman were suggesting re: the Eastern Front in wwii. aid one side when it looked like they were losing, then aid the other when the balance tipped. kill more Nazis and Commies that way.

again, if China's smart, they'll at least stay neutral in any upcoming war with Russia. and it may behoove them to participate on the Western powers' side (for lack of a better word) and gobble up Russian territory rich in natural gas and oil before the Russians or NATO have a chance to ruin it.

or before NATO has a chance to take it for themselves, for that matter

I'm sure that Germany, for instance, wouldn't mind owning the natural gas they currently pay the Russians for, and if they can offload the price in blood and treasure to us in America, then so much the better.

This is assuming this doesn't all end in 30 minutes and bring on nuclear armageddon

well, yes. that is a very big ask. some people think that no one's going to be crazy enough to do that, but people all throughout history have been consistently wrong on that front

if that happens, such petty considerations as who is going to be on who's side will be pretty irrelevant

If there's nukes launched, 90%+ chance it'll be accidental

well, shit, it almost happened in '84 when there was "peace"

I could definitely see it happening in war

which is kind of why I have to question the mainstream media's consistent poking of the Russian bear and their hawkishness. if the nuclear arms situation did not stand as it does, I could see the realpolitik consideration for thinking we could engage Russia, but Russia does have nukes, a lot of nukes. These people have been living under the Sword of Damocles for so long (all their lives in some cases) that they no longer think of it. Russia's nuclear arsenal is unquestionably its strongest assurance of safety. if people think they could possibly agree to not using that card in the future, they're kidding themselves.

I don't mind them taking Russia to task over things they've actually done, mind you, because then you could maybe make an argument from principle (although one has to ask what they're actually willing to sacrifice for their principles). but this shit where they go on flights of fancy just baffles me.