Post by forcon on Sept 30, 2019 7:22:50 GMT
The coup attempt of 1991 fails before it ever starts with the plotters imprisoned for treason. This means that the 'New Union' treaty is largely a success and the USSR retains Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and the Central Asian states. The Baltics, Georgia, and Azerbaijan opt for independence, and this is begrudgingly accepted by Moscow.
The continued existance of the USSR means that, while Western militaries face harsh defence cuts, they are not as harsh as OTL. The UK, France amd Germany all retain a corps on the continent, while the US opts to retain V Corps in Germany with the 1st Armored Division. Furthermore, the Pentagon retains the 5th, 9th & 24th Infantry Division's in the 1990s although the 6th & 8th Division's and the 2nd & 3rd Armored are disbanded. Initially, Europe gets a seemingly-safe peace.
However, Soviet forces fail to abide by withdrawal schedules from the former Warsaw Pact states. This is a deliberate act of political pressure by Moscow which sees worsening East-West relations and more emphasis on defence spending throughout Europe and a US-led deployment into Poland beginning in 1997. NATO retains its Cold War structure, albeit with significantly less forces than back in the 1980s.
Throughout the 1990s, the situation in Yugoslavia worsens, until the commencement of Operation Allied Force in 1999. However, ITTL, NATO opts forna ground invasion of Yugoslavia. Logistical support from Romania and Hungary allows the Alliance to take Belgrade in three weeks. Poland, Romania, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia are slowly absorbed into NATO over the course of the late 90s and early 2000s due to their support for the Alliance in Yugoslavia and threats toward them from the USSR. The Baltic States are denied NATO membership.
9/11 occurs much the same as OTL. The USSR is displeased about having a US invasion of a country on its border, but wont resist with force. US and NATO forces invade Afghanistan much the same as OTL. In 2004, the US & UK invade Iraq, in a sinilar vein as the OTL invasion. Though the legal justification for the war is questionable, it is largely seen as a success. The Pentagon gets the troop numbers wants for the occupation, and the occupation itself is handled better with increased humanitarian aid and the retention of the Iraqi Army and police. Eventually, Iraq is a somewhat stable democracy with good relations with the US.
The Soviets, in response, strengthen their Syria garrison and create a corps there with an airborne division, a mechanised division, and two armoured brigades. The Arab Spring is avoided in Syria, all though Gadaffi is killed during a NATO air campaign against his armed forces.
The USSR invades Georgia some years later as a result of the Akhbazia/South Ossetia dispute. Georgia is crushed within days and remains occupied for the forseable future all though not technically annexed. Post 2010, the USSR uses the same tricks as OTL Russia in Ukraine against the Baltic States and succesfully occupies Estonia but stops at Latvia and Lithuania. This worsens relations to their 1980s levels, with tension high around the world...
What do we think? ORBATs coming soon.
The continued existance of the USSR means that, while Western militaries face harsh defence cuts, they are not as harsh as OTL. The UK, France amd Germany all retain a corps on the continent, while the US opts to retain V Corps in Germany with the 1st Armored Division. Furthermore, the Pentagon retains the 5th, 9th & 24th Infantry Division's in the 1990s although the 6th & 8th Division's and the 2nd & 3rd Armored are disbanded. Initially, Europe gets a seemingly-safe peace.
However, Soviet forces fail to abide by withdrawal schedules from the former Warsaw Pact states. This is a deliberate act of political pressure by Moscow which sees worsening East-West relations and more emphasis on defence spending throughout Europe and a US-led deployment into Poland beginning in 1997. NATO retains its Cold War structure, albeit with significantly less forces than back in the 1980s.
Throughout the 1990s, the situation in Yugoslavia worsens, until the commencement of Operation Allied Force in 1999. However, ITTL, NATO opts forna ground invasion of Yugoslavia. Logistical support from Romania and Hungary allows the Alliance to take Belgrade in three weeks. Poland, Romania, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia are slowly absorbed into NATO over the course of the late 90s and early 2000s due to their support for the Alliance in Yugoslavia and threats toward them from the USSR. The Baltic States are denied NATO membership.
9/11 occurs much the same as OTL. The USSR is displeased about having a US invasion of a country on its border, but wont resist with force. US and NATO forces invade Afghanistan much the same as OTL. In 2004, the US & UK invade Iraq, in a sinilar vein as the OTL invasion. Though the legal justification for the war is questionable, it is largely seen as a success. The Pentagon gets the troop numbers wants for the occupation, and the occupation itself is handled better with increased humanitarian aid and the retention of the Iraqi Army and police. Eventually, Iraq is a somewhat stable democracy with good relations with the US.
The Soviets, in response, strengthen their Syria garrison and create a corps there with an airborne division, a mechanised division, and two armoured brigades. The Arab Spring is avoided in Syria, all though Gadaffi is killed during a NATO air campaign against his armed forces.
The USSR invades Georgia some years later as a result of the Akhbazia/South Ossetia dispute. Georgia is crushed within days and remains occupied for the forseable future all though not technically annexed. Post 2010, the USSR uses the same tricks as OTL Russia in Ukraine against the Baltic States and succesfully occupies Estonia but stops at Latvia and Lithuania. This worsens relations to their 1980s levels, with tension high around the world...
What do we think? ORBATs coming soon.
