User blog comment:SSDGFCTCT9/Story (Mk.II)/@comment-1427137-20100711140705

Seeing as it's in an alternate reality, the year isn't too important. It's supposed to be modern, so say, 2018 randomly. NATO doesn't really exist, as there isn't a definite pact between the EU, Germany and North American countries. They're considered allies, but there are many things that the US disagrees with the EU and Germany.

I'll take Cruz's Hungarian rebellion for example - the US, Canada, Quebec and the UK support the separation from Germany, but the EU and Germany do not.