Germany could just say it out loud: We lack the spine to take a stand against Russia, and since the U.S. and NATO protect us we have no reason to take a stand in the first place. Better enjoy the benefits from not spending on the military and do business with the autocrats too.
Sweden on the other hand stands on the barricades for human rights, at least as long as it doesn't have a negative business impact on HM, Volvo, Ericsson, IKEA, Atlas Copco, Scania, Alfa Laval, or any other Swedish business.
Sweden doesn't supply arms to Ukraine because Ukraine is in a conflict, which is typically when arms are needed one would think. Sweden had no problem selling military equipment to Pakistan, UAE, Algeria, Saudi Arabia or Thailand the last ten years though.
When it comes to Europe and Ukraine Germany is in the hot seat now but in all fairness few countries in Europe are free from guilt when it comes to standing firm against Russian aggression, and corruption by Russia or Russian interests.
Even the Ukrainian government has guilt. Ukraine could have been stronger if corruption had been fought with a real effort. I have many stories I could share regarding this, but anybody interested can search and find for herself.
The conflict with Russia isn't only about Ukraine though, Ukraine just happens to be on the front. Russia and China wants to dominate the world and push the autocracy model of society on as many countries as possible. The primary enemies for Russia and China are the democracies.
European Union collective military expenditures 1989 - 2020, in percent of GDP.
Military expenditures in the countries spending the most in absolute values, sorted by percent of GDP.
Russia spent 4.3% of GDP on the military in 2020. That's more than EU did during any time during the Cold War period between 1960 and 1990.
European Union countries military expenditures in 2019, percent of GDP. Notice that only Estonia passes the two percent mark. Keep in mind Russia spends more than four percent on its military. We gotta do better.

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More from @andersostlund

Jan 28
Germany's original sin is that didn't use all its powers to push back against aggression from the very beginning. It should have learnt this lesson after WWII.
ft.com/content/25b54d…
Where Germany got the idea about a strategic partnership with Russia from is also a mystery to me. My Mother always told me to never associate with criminals. Germany should have known this too. It was obvious what kind of Putin is even before he became president.
Further, even if Germany liked to see Nord Stream 1 and 2 as commercial energy projects it was obvious they were Molotov - Ribbentrop part II for Russia. A knife is lethal even if it can also be used to cut potatoes.
Read 8 tweets
Jan 28
Americans, and others, who claim that Russian speakers in Ukraine are pro-Russia because of the language they speak should ask why English speakers in America revolted against England and created the United States. Because it's about ideology and belonging, not language.
Then look at ethnicity. How many of the Americans who revolted against the English were ethic Englishmen? I bet a large part of the supporters of American independence were ethic Englishmen, so why did they revolt? Because was not about ethnicity, it was about ideology.
Americans typically identify along certain shared values and are proud to call themselves Americans. Despite this I have met many Americans who express pride in their heritage. Was JFK foremost an Irishman or an American? Heritage is one thing, current identification another.
Read 4 tweets
Jan 27
Putin is being compared with Hitler also by German politicians now.
"Putin is using the same arguments for protecting people in other countries as Hitler did."
- The foreign policy speaker for CDU in the German Parliament, @juergenhardt.
@juergenhardt Interesting discussion between the foreign policy spokespersons in CDU and SPD. I like what I hear.
ardmediathek.de/video/phoenix-…
That @OlafScholz is quiet and not visiting allies to confirm Germany's position is criticized.
Read 4 tweets
Jan 26
'Dialogue' must be the most useless term in international politics now. Who ever suggested cutting phone lines, internet, diplomatic relations and international platforms? Maybe 'dialogue' is the new 'concerned', a word to show I read the memo but wont act on it.
'Dialogue' is like walking into a shop to chat with the attendant with no purpose to buy anything. The attendant will lose interest in me soon enough. No, I go to the shop to buy something, the dialogue might be a part of the purchase process, but it's not the goal in itself.
Instead of saying "we must have dialogue" diplomats should say what they want to achieve, or at least know that themselves, before going into dialogue to achieve those preset goals.
Read 4 tweets
Jan 26
Putin is a good tactician and great at spotting opportunities. But Putin is a lousy strategist. Long term he is weakening Russia's position to a point were breakup is a real possibility. Don't forget that.
Putin couldn't manage Yanukovych so Ukraine was lost and as revenge Putin made sure the most pro-Russian voters would lose their influence in Ukrainian politics.
Instead of mediating Lukashenka's departure Putin went all in to support him, which will eventually make the friendly Belarusians turn against Putin and Russia.
Read 7 tweets
Jan 25
Global protests against the war in Iraq in 2003 were some of the largest the world has ever seen.
When Russia is about to attack Ukraine, the "peace" movement is completely silent. This phenomenon has to be scrutinized. Photo from London.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/15_Februa…
The COVID pandemic is a reason not to have street protests but there is plenty of space in media and online. But also there the "peace" movement is completely silent.
Read 4 tweets

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