Tom Clonan (Independent)
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For the record, the Russians certainly cannot. They can only produce a small fraction of that. Russia has a gross domestic product that is roughly similar to Spain’s. The European Union has a GDP 20 times that of Russia. Even without the US financial commitment to NATO in Europe, we dwarf Russia in terms of our military. I share Deputy Stanley’s view. I grew up in the 1960s and 1970s when we had Warsaw Pact forces in almost every capital in central and eastern Europe. We had nuclear missiles pointed at every European city and we did not panic. That ever-present threat, which was much more acute than the current appalling circumstances in Ukraine, which is a criminal invasion and violation of human rights, did not frame our concept of ourselves and our neutrality. Professor Tora mentioned the United States. I attended briefings in the Pentagon with the CIA recently. I attended briefings at NATO headquarters in Brussels and at the Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Powers in Europe at Mons quite recently, which were hosted by the United States. Their permanent representation to NATO in Brussels is still there. Does Professor Tonra believe the United States would relinquish their domination of NATO in Europe and their control and influence there?