We are now on day fourteen of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and some of the big concerns are the growing humanitarian ones—not only the inability to safely get civilians out of cities under bombardment, but the fact that in some of those cities, particularly Mariupol, people are trapped with no electricity, little food, running water, or medical supplies. Meanwhile, president Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the British Parliament via video, and called on them for even tougher sanctions against the “terrorist state” Russia. The US has decided to ban all Russian oil and gas, while corporations like McDonald’s and Starbucks have decided to suspend operations in Russia (though more likely because the ruble is nearly worthless and not something they want to be doing business in).
Justin Trudeau was in Latvia for NATO meetings, where he announced that Canada’s mission there would be extended for several more years. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also made the point of warning Russia against attacking any supply lines supporting Ukraine within NATO territory, citing that it would trigger Article 5. Poland also floated the idea of sending fighter planes to a US/NATO base in Germany to then somehow send to Ukraine, but the Pentagon nixed the idea as unworkable.
All of this talk, of course, leads to yet more questions about military spending in Canada, and that “two percent of GDP” target, which is a very poor metric.
Your daily reminder that the 2% standard is a shitty metric.
How so?
If your economy tanks, you look better (defence spending as % of gross domestic product).
If you spend lots on personnel who don't do stuff, you look good.
If you buy expensive stuff that doesn't work? Cool! https://t.co/Rm4yPOJ0V7— Steve Saideman (@smsaideman) March 8, 2022
Greece exceeds 2% and does anyone consider Greece to be a good ally? No. They didn't show up in Afghanistan or in any other NATO operation in a major way. They spend a lot on personnel as a welfare-ish program and they aim their military at … another NATO ally. #2%BS
— Steve Saideman (@smsaideman) March 8, 2022