I think you've pretty well nailed it Mick - but NATO would have no cause to exist if it wasn't as a consequence of the cold war and the resurgence of Russian belligerence under Putin's regime. Not sure why you keep referring to US/NATO because the US is just as likely to quit NATO itself if Trump is allowed anywhere near the Whitehouse again. If that happens they will dump Ukraine like they've dumped everyone else who thought they were staunch allies. Why Australia and Taiwan still put eggs in this rotten basket mystifies me.
