The view that the country can remain neutral, balancing the interests of Russia and the West, while also being part of the West, is no longer morally or politically tenable.
Meanwhile, in May, the previously neutral Sweden and Finland formally submitted applications to join NATO; and there are signs that Turkey and Hungary — who have been holding up the ratification process — may now be softening their objections to this Scandinavian surge.
Yes, it did sign onto the European Union’s sanctions against Russia and its financial aid regime in support of Ukraine, but it has opted out of any military participation, citing its constitutionally anchored “permanent neutrality” — a stance that is no longer feasible.
Austrian capital flowed east, Eastern European labor came west, and throughout the decade, the country became a natural destination for refugees fleeing former Serbian President Slobodan Milošević’s genocidal war.
In 1995, Austria then joined the EU along with Sweden and Finland and signed up to NATO’s Partnership for Peace — members of its armed forces still participate in the peacekeeping missions in Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina today.
Yet, despite all this, Austria continues to cling to its official permanent neutrality as if the face-off between Europe’s former military blocs — NATO and the Warsaw Pact — were still ongoing and as though it isn’t an EU member.
No longer a border state, Austria is almost fully surrounded by EU and NATO members — Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia and Italy.
The original article contains 1,021 words, the summary contains 217 words. Saved 79%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
No longer a border state, Austria is almost fully surrounded by EU and NATO members — Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia and Italy.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Meanwhile, in May, the previously neutral Sweden and Finland formally submitted applications to join NATO; and there are signs that Turkey and Hungary — who have been holding up the ratification process — may now be softening their objections to this Scandinavian surge.
Yes, it did sign onto the European Union’s sanctions against Russia and its financial aid regime in support of Ukraine, but it has opted out of any military participation, citing its constitutionally anchored “permanent neutrality” — a stance that is no longer feasible.
Austrian capital flowed east, Eastern European labor came west, and throughout the decade, the country became a natural destination for refugees fleeing former Serbian President Slobodan Milošević’s genocidal war.
In 1995, Austria then joined the EU along with Sweden and Finland and signed up to NATO’s Partnership for Peace — members of its armed forces still participate in the peacekeeping missions in Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina today.
Yet, despite all this, Austria continues to cling to its official permanent neutrality as if the face-off between Europe’s former military blocs — NATO and the Warsaw Pact — were still ongoing and as though it isn’t an EU member.
No longer a border state, Austria is almost fully surrounded by EU and NATO members — Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia and Italy.
The original article contains 1,021 words, the summary contains 217 words. Saved 79%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
This reads a bit like a threat, aka Anschluss 2.0