While historically neutral Finland and Sweden have moved to join NATO in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Austria remains committed to military neutrality and has no plans to join NATO, a policy that remains popular inside the country.
As an EU member, Austria has joined in on sanctions against Moscow but has not sent weapons to Ukraine. Vienna has only provided Kyiv with humanitarian aid and non-lethal military equipment.
Al Jazeera reported Monday that 80% of Austrians support military neutrality and not joining NATO. The view is shared across the political spectrum in Austria, and since Russia invaded Ukraine, Austrian politicians have made clear that NATO membership is not up for discussion.
After World War II, Austria was divided into Allied-occupied areas. But in 1955, the country was granted independence and declared its neutrality. Throughout the Cold War, Vienna served as a buffer between the West and the Soviet Union.”
After the horrible experience of two World Wars and the Nazi terror regime, neutrality is deeply rooted in the mindset of the Austrian population,” Wolfgang Pusztai, a former Austrian defense attaché, said in comments to Al Jazeera.
Sweden and Finland have abandoned their policy of neutrality by applying to join NATO, which still needs to be formally approved by each alliance member. Finland had been neutral since the end of World War II, while Sweden maintained a neutral foreign policy since the 1800s, which kept the country out of the world wars, sparing it from being destroyed like most of Europe.
We need to keep similar track of Germany. It is being driven by economic distress to go the way of Austria.
Sorry, Mark. I’m not optimistic. The people of Europe might not want war, but none of the European politicians seem to be truly antiwar–not even Switzerland. It seems most rational intellectuals left Europe a long time ago my friend. Austrian Chancellor’s sham diplomacy with Russia in April 2022 is a good example. Doing less to support the actual war is not good enough to stop it. Germany has to replace their entire political structure if they truly want their country to do better.
Clearly you are correct about the current leadership. But that is changing. That is what might change more.
And not just “political” structure. With few exceptions the educated classes have bought into neoliberalism, reprising classical 19th century liberalism, which requires growth, the constant acquisition of new markets and resources. And the entailed competition inevitably requires the application of force. Balance of Power, the Kissinger thesis, limits growth. To paraphrase the Iron Lady, “socialism is the only way.”
Most EU countries have suppressed anything other than the neo-liberal narrative for decades now.
Austria is cheating itself…!
Al Jazeera reported Monday that 80% of Austrians support military neutrality
Polling in many NATO/EU countries would probably come up with the same poll results, if they allowed polling on the issue.
Here in the US too. But we’d have to be told the truth first.
Extrapolation of data/polls going on here?
I doubt it. I live in Europe and travel a lot. Most people I talk to hate the Russians for what they are doing and are all in to support Ukraine. Same in the states. I do know Tucker Carlson has rallied a new pro Russia sentiment but not enough to even get close to a majority. Plus, there are polls in the states too. Just check them out. If you don’t trust them, that’s a different thing. I’m probably wasting my time if you are a conspiracy theorist. That’s a different level you never come back from.
Now you are denying the existence of the greatest propaganda machine on the planet. Or defending it.