[travisathougies]

Sweden and Finland should not be allowed to join NATO until they pay backdues. It is obvious that a large portion of countries depend implicitly on the United States for their defense against certain bad actors, like Russia, North Korea, and China. They ought to pay us, because right now, American military spending which guarantees these country's security is being disproportionately paid for by Americans, who are enjoying only partial benefits.

[bryanlarsen]

Sweden and Finland have paid more "dues" than much of the rest of NATO. They've both got very capable militaries that have done joint exercises with NATO. Any increased costs to defend them are more than balanced out by decreased costs to defend the Baltics.

[effie]

What backdues? They were neutral, there was no treaty.

> "Depend implicitly"

That is your opinion. These countries have capable armies.

US benefits from NATO in a different way; it gets unprecedented level of access and control of airspace and land. It is a military and political power benefit, much more precious than some joke money. US can print all the money it needs, since US dollar is reserve currency.

[hollerith]

Huh. I always thought Finland paid its dues when it fought off an invasion from the Soviet Union without help from the anti-German alliance in 1940.

[rayiner]

Sweden and Finland should join NATO, and America should leave. Europe’s security is their problem, not ours.