Originally Posted by
Lonewolf_50
I think Stuff made a decent point.
As to the Germans choosing to be more like Belgium and not pony up: not too surprised.
It is a lot easier to sell a program of collective defense to your political public than it is "to go elsewhere with our blood and treasure" ... which may be part of Merkel's problem.
The German political landscape is also morphing.
When US leadership demands Nato members buy more stuff they really mean, "Buy more US produced stuff" rather than buy more native or UK or French produced.
When German politicians are openly viewing US Ambassador as akin to a "High Commissioner from an occupying power" then you start to see things unravelling. Germany is looking after Germanys economic interests.