Austria’s Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger has called for an open discussion on the country’s long-standing neutrality, stating that it no longer guarantees national security in the face of growing geopolitical instability and an increasingly aggressive Russia.
In an interview with Die Welt, Meinl-Reisinger emphasized that neutrality alone does not protect Austria and pointed to the importance of strengthening defense capabilities and deepening international partnerships. “Austria is protected by investment in its own defense capacities and in its partnerships,” she said.
The minister’s remarks follow a proposal by Emil Brix, Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, suggesting that Austria consider joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Meinl-Reisinger expressed support for a public debate on the issue, acknowledging that the current political and public majority remains opposed to NATO membership.
…
Meinl-Reisinger also addressed Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, stating that Ukraine seeks peace, while Russia continues its campaign of aggression. She added that if Russian leader Vladimir Putin were genuinely interested in peace, he would have engaged in ceasefire negotiations.
…
Yea… hm… let’s have a long hard thinking about why it is that suddenly so many European countries that haven’t been in NATO, suddenly want to join it. Why could that possibly be? I bet it must be those evil Americans, as always! Right? Riiight?
Yes, let’s have that thinking. It makes some sense for the other countries but not for Austria.
I guess that’s up to the Austrians to decide where they feel safer in the current environment in Europe.
Yes, but we should care if they are manipulated.
Instead of addressing the elephant in the room, Austria obviously being ‘manipulated’ by Russia openly waging a war of aggression within Europe since more than three years, you desperately try to manufacture a spin that this somehow is (of course) due to ‘Western manipulation and coercion’. In your world, it is unthinkable that Russia is perceived a threat and that countries are joining NATO voluntarily.
Well guess what: in the moment it is you forcing your wishes on Austria.
That’s not the elephant in the room. I am openly asking about a scenario that threatens Austria. In other words, I want to know how the front can reach Austria.
It is and you know it. There is exactly one reason why Sweden and Finland joined NATO and to pretend it is a different one here is at best absurd.
Austria doesn’t need to proof to you that they ‘justifiably’ want into NATO. If they want in, they can come in, simple as that. I also find it a bit strange that there is always this sentiment transpiring here that you want to tell other countries what to do.
An elephant in the room is something that everybody knows but nobody mentions. In that sense the war is no elephant.
Austria can do whatever it wants. I just don’t buy the argument that the war in Ukraine had changed the Austrian security situation to the point that they have to join Nato. They can join because they feel threatened but usually some rational strategic reason should exist. I am asking for that reason but I only receive evasions.
Yet you fail to acknowledge that this war has unprecedented effects on the security concerns of European countries. That’s the elephant you’re constantly avoiding. Instead of acknowledging that it is eventually Russia itself with its own stupid and pointless war forcing these countries into NATO, you instead try to shift the blame to ‘the west’. Pointless.
I don’t think the argument ‘yea, Russia is waging an open war of aggression for years just two borders away and transformed its economy to a total war economy, hence cannot afford to stop and also is hellbent on “taking from Europe whatever they think is theirs”, but don’t you worry, because there still is another country between you and the warzone’ is either rational or very convincing. So what?