"If you fight in Afghanistan, that's not the same as fighting the Russians in Ukraine," Admiral Rob Bauer said on Sunday.

Summary

NATO’s Military Committee head, Admiral Rob Bauer, stated that NATO troops would likely be in Ukraine countering Russian forces if Russia lacked nuclear weapons.

Speaking at the IISS Prague Defence Summit, Bauer emphasized that Russia’s nuclear arsenal deters direct NATO involvement, contrasting Ukraine’s situation with past NATO interventions in non-nuclear states like Afghanistan.

Although NATO nations provide military aid to Ukraine, direct troop deployment has been avoided, with leaders like U.S. President Biden ruling it out due to nuclear escalation risks highlighted by Russian threats and rhetoric.

  • Skyrmir@lemmy.worldEnglish
    281·
    8 days ago

    If not for nukes, Poland probably would have rolled Russia by themselves. The rest of NATO could just be emotional support.

      • Skyrmir@lemmy.worldEnglish
        3·
        7 days ago

        Poland’s military is about half again larger than Ukraine prior to the war, large portions of it are very well trained, and their equipment is significantly better. If they decided to march to Moscow, nothing Russia has, short of nukes, would slow them down. And Poland would really like to discuss with them, some of the things that happened in WW2, in an up front and personal way.

    • barsoap@lemm.eeEnglish
      10·
      8 days ago

      If it was just Poland they wouldn’t mind getting nuked if it means getting rid of Moscow. Ironically it’s being in NATO that’s holding them back.

      • Skyrmir@lemmy.worldEnglish
        4·
        8 days ago

        Very true, and if the nuclear threat goes away, it’ll look like a pack of junk yard dogs let loose on a kitten.