The purpose of NATO was summed up as "to keep
the Soviet Union out, the Americans in, and the Germans down," by lord
Hastings Lionel Ismay who functioned as the First Secretary General of NATO
during 1952-57. The philosophy continues to date. Let me examine how Germany was
being done in.
It was West Germany that officially joined NATO on
6/5/1955 as the 15th member of the Alliance. With the reunification of the then
East Germany in 1990 the membership was upgraded to Federal Republic of Germany.
Why America wanted the
German nation in its entirety to be an active front level member of
NATO?
Post war Germany was a shining example of
industrial progress and prosperity all round. America wanted to drag her down. So
the initial offer of membership in NTO to West Germany and thereafter with the Soviet
collapse US wanted the burden of East Germany be thrust upon the shoulders of
the Germans. Hence, US manoeuvred
for the reunification a colossal exercise that cost more than two
trillion Euro to German treasury and still remained as a bleeding wound. Look
at the area comparison of East and West Germany. East Germany had an extent of
108,875 square km, whereas West Germany had land area of 248,147 square km. By
October 3, 1990 Germany took over almost half of her size of land while
absorbing her eastern part.
Germany luckily, recovered once again and became
the engine of Europe. America was waiting on the river side of Rhine, following
the advice given by Sun Tzu who said: “If you wait by the river long enough,
the bodies of your enemies will float by.” When Russia commenced special military operations,
US got another opportunity that she was waiting for to knock down Germany once again.
She made Germany the lead player in Europe to resist Russia and assist Ukraine
handing out largesse in terms of cash weapons, provision of intelligence not to
forget diplomatic clout. Today Germany is browbeaten and now with negative
growth German population is unable to meet their daily needs.
Moreover Germany has to kill the goose that was laying golden egg, which is Russian cheap natural gas. By not stopping the blast of Nord Stream pipeline Germany was complicit to a major geoeconomics blunder as well as an eco-disaster. Germany hitherto was using Russian cheap gas leveraging more than ten times by bringing out competitive industrial output and also affording households cheap cooking and heating.
At current input cost natural gas sourced from
elsewhere, including USA there is absolutely no leveraging possible. At the end of production process
an industrial unit coming out of German factory would cost more than what can
be imported from China. Sad state of affairs indeed!
Essentially, the bottom line remains same. If you do not navigate strategy amid domestic compulsion and geoeconomics you would be played out by both!
Cheers!
Muthu Ashraff
Strategy Adviser
Mobile: + 94 777 265677
E-mail: cosmicgems@gmail.com
Blog: Strategy Adviser
