[RN7]

Raellus just try and follow my logic in regards to your logic over Italy without getting offended. I'm really not trying to be smart or offensive.

Originally Posted by Raellus

In the paradigm of realpolitik, leaving NATO to join the WTO does not necessarily indicate an Italian desire to immediately enter into a shooting war with the U.S.A.

Italy leaves NATO after NATO forces cross the Inter-German border and begin combat operations against Warsaw Pact forces in East Germany and other WP states. Italy then joins the WP which is at war with NATO. If Italy has no desire to enter a shooting war with the U.S.A why did it not just remain neutral? That's what France did.

Originally Posted by Raellus

Neither does aligning with the WTO indicate a radical ideological shift. It serves a more practical purpose.

If changing its allegiance from an alliance of democratic states to that of a group of communist states dominated by the Soviet Union doesn't indicate a radical ideological shift then I don't know what does.

Originally Posted by Raellus

If canon's description of Italy's military operations is any indication, their interests were much more localized; Italy spends most of the war attempting to annex nearby territory (mostly from Austria).

I think Italy's military operations were localised due to the fact that this would be all that its forces could manage. Italy did not have the military capabilities of other major European powers such as Britain and France who had much stronger air and naval forces, or the sheer fire power of the German Army. And if Italy spends most of the war attempting to annex nearby territory what does that tell us about the motivations of the Italian government?

Originally Posted by Raellus

Joining the WTO doesn't necessarily indicate an ideological realignment, rather it can be seen as an Italian ploy to secure protection from potential NATO reprisals for local land grabs by putting Italy under the U.S.S.R. nuclear umbrella..

So Italy leaves NATO after nearly 50 years and severs relations with most of its closest allies and trade partners so that it can grab the Alpine passes from Austria. And when you head north through the Alpine Passes its leads to were? The German speaking regions of Europe who would be perfectly content to let Italy steal territory from other ethnic Germans, and particularly the German military who has just reunified Germany and kicked the Soviets out of Germany.

And Italy replaces the nuclear protection of NATO with that of the Soviet Union to make a land grab. Well I can see a little logic in that, but it doesn't make me think that Italy intends to remain neutral if it wants to annex other countries territories. Also what does Italy think NATO is really going to do? Italy has a very long and exposed coastline. The US Navy Sixth Fleet in the Med alone could probably wipe out the Italian Air Force and Navy by itself if it was ordered to.

Originally Posted by Raellus

Therefore, I think that Italy would have allowed the evacuation of "joint" nukes instead of aggressively trying to nationalize them and defend them by force. They lose more than they gain by trying to seize/maintain control of American nukes. As a WTO, a nuclear deterrent already exists.

I don't think I would trust the Italian government to do that, at least not the type of Italian government that you have implied has taken over Italy.