War in Ukraine Megathread L

Nope. This is the EU Treaty:

If a Member State is the victim of armed aggression on its territory, the other Member States shall have towards it an obligation of aid and assistance by all the means in their power, in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. This shall not prejudice the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain Member States.

EU Treaty Article 42/7

"BY ALL MEANS IN THEIR POWER".

If Finland is attacked, all EU members have to help it by everything that is in their power. So Austria having to implement conspription and sending a few hundred thousand soldiers would theoretically (obviously not de facto) be their obligation.

Compare that to NATO Article 5

The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognised by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.

"WILL ASSIST"

Assistance could be thoughts and prayers. Assistance could be 5000 helmets. Assistance could be a few weapons and reconaissance. Assistance could be the full military might of every NATO member.

NATO isn't the alliance it is because the treaty demands it. It is what it is, because the full power of all its member states actually want to defend all of them. It is feared because the terrible might of the United States backs it up, not because some words in a very old treaty demands it.

If Europe ever wants to be independent of the US in its geopolitics, it has to live up to what, legally, already is the case. Being a military alliance that deserves the name. Because if we actually care about our laws and treaties, being in the EU means we are members of one of the most stringent military alliances ever created.

/r/europe Thread Parent