DISINFO: NATO expands Eastwards to threaten and provoke Russia
SUMMARY
NATO expands eastwards to threaten and provoke Russia. The Russian demand that NATO should not move further into Ukraine and Georgia is absolutely understandable. But the US will not want to concede this security guarantee voluntarily because of its ongoing hegemonic mania.
NATO's claims on Ukraine deeply worry Moscow. Russia cannot watch indifferently as the Alliance's military infrastructure begins to move toward Russian borders. Russia was only asking the West not to station NATO military infrastructure in Eastern Europe. Rejection of Moscow's demands testifies to disinterest in compromise and strategic dialogue with Russia.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative claiming that NATO's 'expansion' is a security threat for Russia.
NATO does not seek confrontation with Russia and poses no threat to Russia. NATO is a defensive alliance, whose primary aims are to maintain peace and safeguard the independence, security and territorial integrity of its members. During the Warsaw summit in July 2016, NATO has made it clear that "The Alliance does not seek confrontation and poses no threat to Russia". This was also reaffirmed in the Brussels Summit Communiqué of 14 June 2021.
Furthermore, the claim about NATO “expansion” misrepresents the process of NATO enlargement. NATO does not “expand” but considers the applications of candidate countries that want to join exercising their free will to decide their alliance affiliation.
Currently, this narrative is being used by Russia to blame NATO for its relations with Ukraine: Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity continue to be violated by acts of aggression by the Russian armed forces since 2014. In response to Russia's aggressive actions against Ukraine, NATO suspended practical cooperation with Russia.
Read similar cases claiming that NATO forgot promises not to enlarge to the East, that it was agreed that NATO would never accept countries that border Russia, or that the US and Russia had an agreement that NATO wouldn't be enlarged.
See also our recent article about 7 myths of Russian disinformation regarding the Ukraine conflict.