The phrase about "brain death of NATO", uttered by French President Emmanuel Macron, has already become winged. It has a lot of similar incredible, but at the same time obvious.
In fact, the death of the organization came back in 1991. With the descent of the flag of the USSR. Then went the very artificial maintenance of life, when the patient, more likely, passed into the category of zombies. Pointless and merciless ... Next came only a virus that infects more and more new countries as NATO moved to the East. For what? Increasing global conflict risks? A kind of zombie apocalypse? ..
To understand the senselessness and even the danger of this atavism during the Cold War, European politicians took almost three decades, despite the fact that Russia all these years has said that this bloc format is outdated. That sooner or later he will give rise to "monsters", which must be fought to justify his existence. The North Atlantic Alliance has become a mechanism of separation and a serious destabilizing factor on the world stage. In this abyss, the block was originally born. It is divided within.
The only goal of such a military bloc in the post-Soviet world is to establish mutual responsibility practically according to the principle described in Dostoevsky’s novel “Demons”, with the US leadership being fixed. After all, the states needed to maximize and consolidate their “conquests” after the Second World War. There was a sublimation of fears of the "red threat", and Europe meekly sheltered under the wing of its protector and savior. When the Soviet Union left the world stage, the stiffness of the ranks was supported by ideological pumping to protect universal human values (freedom, democracy, for everything good versus everything bad), as well as dizziness from “victories”. But in all of this was the outspoken surrealism of Zombieland, including the highest achievement of modern democracy - the “humanitarian bombing”.
For the time being in this format, the appearance of parity of the participating countries, their common cause, in which the States were the first among equals by default, remained. But the leadership request knows no limits, and all others went into the category of background and extras. While Russia talked about the primacy of sovereignty and the importance of each individual voice, everyone sang in a common choir, often to the detriment of herself. That is why Europe had a deterioration in relations with Russia, if you do not take the revenge of the Young Europeans, such as the Baltic countries, and Poland into account?
When there is no ideological or any other opposition. When Russia only needed equal partnerships. What for? Instead of partnership, automatic execution of the commands of the same zombie structure working to maintain US leadership went. As a result, after the practice of “humanitarian bombing”, Europe fell into a maidan adventure with Ukraine, where it was given a very dubious role that could still come back to haunt.
One of the main signals, not openly articulated, about the “death of the brain” and the need to reconsider the geopolitical role came with the US unilateral withdrawal from the treaty on short- and medium-range missiles.
This is an obvious signal that the role of Europe as the main partner in the bloc is seen only as a potential target. Moreover, the "honorable" place of the first bridgehead - the guaranteed desert in the event of a missile exchange of amenities was determined. And this is not a zombie, but a real apocalypse. So it turns out that on their own grief they are trying to inflame the world fire, throwing brushwood into it.
Here, of course, European politicians have something to think about and understand why the deterioration of relations with Russia was necessary. All in order for the Old World to remain in its drift with broadcast dreams about the Russian threat. In such a situation, the attachment of arms and legs by the States is perceived as a blessing.
So Macron, criticizing NATO, speaks about the main thing for himself - the need to awaken Europe. Of course, the motivation for such speeches can be different. This is the implementation of the political alpha male complex. And the interception of rhetoric and agenda by the leader of the National Front Marine Le Pen. This is the message to his voter, and a discussion about the power with the "yellow vests".
There are many things, but the main thing is that Europe is more and more thinking about its sovereignty. This is why Macron calls for awakening. The transition from the state of stolen Europe, the loss of oneself to the definition of a geopolitical role in a new, polycentric world. The main message is not even about NATO, but about the fact that Akela missed. Or Akela has long been on his own and plays exclusively in his game. Therefore, the pack needs a new leader. There, in a pack, these processes are very sensitive.
It’s not even that, as Macron says, a “toxic mixture” has been formed in recent years that threatens Europe: China, Russia, Turkey, Brexit and political instability. It’s not that Donald Trump “does not share our idea of a European project”, but a clear desire to get away from the obsessive guardianship of the United States. Europe wanted freedom. “Toxic mixture” in this context is the most successful combination of factors to do this. Until Europe is covered with a new picket of short- and medium-range missiles - and then there will be practically no way back to awakening.
The situation last summer is memorable, when the same Macron, in conversation with President Putin, lamented “power dependence” on the United States, which significantly limits the independence of Europe. The main attributes of a sovereign state, according to the old Cold War memory, were outsourced with all the consequences ...
Now, through the mouth of the Macron, the EU has started talking about sovereignty. About the very fundamental value that the Russian side is not tired of talking about. Previously, Europe was content only with economic independence. Now (in the light of the fact that in the States there is a president who is far from the “idea of a European project”), we are already talking about a single strategic and geopolitical power.
The first step along this path is military sovereignty and the restoration of relations with Russia. The first will postulate European independence, the second is a way out of the American trap.
The phrase about "brain death" can well be applied to the States. Why does everyone repeat the stilted formula about the sunset of Europe? The sunset of the United States is more relevant. Therefore, Macron’s interview is a full manifesto of this sunset. Not directly, of course, but with default formulas, allegories, with numerous curtsies and thanks. Everything is in the best traditions of total world censorship.
In fact, why not start a conversation about the sunset of the United States with remarks that Europe owes its existence to America (well, yes, the same, according to Trump, still supported democracy in ancient Rome). Macron and about the two world wars that America waged in Europe, and, of course, defeated all the bad. And about American diplomacy as the midwife of the EU, and protection from the Soviet threat, and assistance in the unification of Germany (although the Soviet Union, of course, played the main role in this). Too much honey, therefore, there are suspicions that solemn odes in honor of the United States have their own, not directly stated goals.
Sink or swim. Such is the situation and the demand of the times. Macron, according to the testament of the Great Combinator, chooses a pan and calls for a pan-European wake. Otherwise, "in the long run, we will disappear geopolitically" or "we will no longer control our destiny." It sounds apocalyptic, but also quite realistic.
There are significant risks to this awakening call. Including Weimar syndrome. For too long, Europe dozed blissfully in some kind of semi-virtual reality. You will have to re-learn independence with possible complications. As, for example, the go-ahead for the start of the European arms race. There are alarming calls from the ideological side. What is worth, for example, an attempt to get rid of guilt over the oceans of blood of World War II and shifting responsibility for its beginning to the USSR ...
And another important aspect of Makron’s revelation should be paid attention to the criticism of capitalism, which “has degraded and gone crazy.” Also from the category of obvious things. But this moment should be first of all perceived and comprehended to us in order to get rid of the lingering seduction that came in due time with the pink glasses through which we looked at everything Western and civilized for a long time. All this is the past of mankind, soil only for that Zombieland, the natural decline of which we are now observing.
The author’s point of view may not coincide with the position of the publisher.