Russia-Ukraine War (continuing)

Did you miss the Chinese flotilla doing live fire exercises off the east coast recently? Half the coast at minimum and a lot more if the Chinese start paying visits along the west coast.

That author might as well be MAGA. Serious delusions.

The Europeans are a stodgy, old-fashioned bunch who do not like new wrinkles in American foreign policy. But this has happened before. Many governments on the continent were extremely frustrated with the United States during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Still, they eventually came around and formed a coalition to fight in Afghanistan.

To say this bloke doesn't get it would be putting it mildly. He's like Trump in this respect. Europeans, Canadians, Australians, Kiwis - all obliged the US in Afghanistan and shed the blood of their finest, only to have the US dishonour and disrespect those sacrifices in the worst and most comprehensive ways possible, yet he thinks you just have to whisper F-35 and all will be made good.

I would find it hard as an Australian to convey just how much gravitas and regard Australia puts in the sacrifices of their armed forces, they don't forget or belittle this stuff the way Trump and seemingly this author does, who thinks they will just get over it so they can buy some shiny trinkets.

I was earlier reading about how Australia offered the US trade in strategic minerals they seem keen on, in return for some sense with tariffs, only to have the whole effort prove pointless. The crew of the ship of fools the Trump administration is, think there will be no serious consequences and that they can belittle and bully everyone else at will. I think countries are getting seriously angry, and it's building with each Trump brain fart and egregious betrayal.

As the tariffs went into effect, one minister privately fumed: “None of this makes any f--king economic sense.” Another cabinet member argues the US, not Australia, will ultimately lose out if this is how it treats its alliance partner: “We have things they need, and we can be very helpful or not very helpful.”

That 'we have things they need' goes triple in the strategic military sphere. The US better watch out someone in Australia doesn't do the smart thing and stop fire-walling Australia's military and intelligence cooperation with the US from unfriendly economic attacks.

Look for fighter plane diplomacy to triumph once again. The F-35 is a superior product and NATO members will just have to get used to the ins and outs of Trump’s foreign policy that focuses on “America First.” International relations that promote national interest are nothing new, and the United States believes that it can keep America great and still have diplomatic success in Europe.

It's not that superior. The French Rafale seems like it might have some serious stealth capabilities of it's own, which the French are keeping quiet about in the public sphere. I think it was just 2 days ago some Rafales engaged in some SIGINT work in the Black sea, meaning these things have some serious multi-disciplinary capabilities. Given their track, and assuming no Orc SU-35's showed up to welcome them, I think it's safe to say they are quite stealthy.

Contrast that with what happened a couple of weeks ago when a French RQ-9 Reaper was intercepted in the eastern med with the Orcs attempting to down it with air turbulence manoeuvres in the same way they downed the US operated RQ-9 in 2023; with:

The French warplanes on Wednesday stayed in international airspace and no encounters with Russian Air Force interceptors or ground defenses were made public.

This is supposedly the track of the two Rafales. I'm not sure what the dashed lines represent but I would assume it means they turned off their transponders flew East and then switched their transponders on again, as if baiting the Orcs - switched off their transponders and flew back west. Was this also a test to see if Orc interceptors could find them?

The main purpose of the mission might have been to gather targeting intel for Ukraine: https://www.kyivpost.com/post/48864

According to some news reports at the time, at least one of the Mirages had been fitted with an ASTAC electronics pod designed to detect the locations of air defense radars ashore. In a possibly linked incident, Ukrainian kamikaze drones hammered an air defense site and two oil refineries in southwest Russia less than twelve hours after the French Mirages exited Black Sea airspace.

Long story short, the F-35 probably isn't the only game in town. Both Switzerland and Germany appear to possibly be reevaluating their inclinations to buy F-35s, as well as Canada. So Portugal seems out and three other countries might cancel and possibly even Poland and Romania might be having second thoughts.

Seems to me with so many F-35s in Europe, the US could perhaps save future sales and restore confidence by setting up an EU controlled base where everything from re-tuning ECM suites to creating mission profiles and maintenance can be carried out, without a US veto.

Denmark is currently considering whether to go with Patriot or SAMP-T missile defence systems. Given the insane talk of just grabbing Greenland, I doubt the Patriot is looking like the best option to the Danes.

Wasn't it a neptune missile fired from the back of a modified truck which sank the Moskva? You got to give it to the Ukrainians, they are one creative bunch.

Considering what is happening in Ukraine and Russia quite a few countries may opt for 2.5k drones like lancet instead of one f35. Or 40k cheaper drones…

No one doubts the abilities of the F35. It's about America giving real doubts about it's future. Trump & Maga may end up being replaced with a reasonable regime but they might not. There's a long history. America stood by as Hitler took Europe. Churchill had to beg for help. It's hardly surprising that people are realising that you can't trust the USA.

The alternative aircraft may not be as good but they can be relied on. Plus what's the point in any weapon of the US can decide when & against whom it can be used ? The UK has nuclear deterrent that it can't use without US approval.

The warheads on the UK trident missiles are of UK manufacture. I don't believe the US has control over UK nuclear weapons.

US maintenance and resupply of what?

I thought it was USA missile systems, nuke warheads & submarines built & maintained in Britain? Barrow in Furness / Clyde, not sure where the nukes are assembled & maintained, maybe still Aldermaston, my auld Dad worked there decades ago.

That money is better spend on nukes on missiles

Sure Trump told everyone out loud he is afraid of WW3

If North Korea can do it, and be respected by likes of Trump so can any number of advanced industrialised western countries who are waking up to American bullshit

Report of additional funding from Ireland as part of EU support for Ukraine.

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2025/0316/1502448-ireland-ukraine-military-funding/

Where are them “checks and balances” while the Russian asset **** on veterans (again)?