General Discussion

Honestly, that might not be a bad thing. Certainly for Ukraine right now. And if we ever get out of this mess, it's better to have equal partners who are actually equal, and not be the sole colossus with a unilateral bent. That's gotten us into nothing but trouble from Vietnam to Iraq. Mainly because no one else on our team was strong enough to say no and have that mean anything. Can't find consensus? That's fine. Maybe the best answer sometimes is to do nothing instead of rushing in, foolishly confident in our own, unvetted view.

They've got some catching up to do militarily, but are certainly wealthy enough and technological advanced enough to equal and surpass the US. Truth is, we and the former Soviet Union are the reason they need to catch up. Through most of the Cold War, certainly the decades right after WW2, it wasn't in our collective interests as the 2 sole super powers to allow a rearmed Europe. The German Bundeswehr wasn't established until 1955. A full 10 years after WW2 ended. France tired of us and went their own way. Can't blame them.