DISINFO: NATO invaded the Balkans
SUMMARY
After the disappearance of the “Soviet threat” NATO was deprived of its raison d’être, which is why, in 1993, Washington called for either a change in direction, or closure of the organisation. These slogans had a powerful effect and then the Alliance invaded the Balkans under US command.
RESPONSE
Disinformation message consistent with recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation about NATO aggression.
Slovenia joined NATO in 2004. Albania and Croatia joined NATO in 2009. Bosnia and Herzegovina joined NATO's Partnership for Peace (PfP) program. The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro applied to NATO's PfP in June 2003. Montenegro declared independence on 3 June 2006, subsequently joined the PfP, and then NATO itself without Serbia in 2017. The permanent representatives of NATO Member States signed a protocol on the accession of North Macedonia to NATO on 6 February 2019. The country will become a member of NATO as soon as all Allies have ratified the Accession Protocol.
NATO launched a campaign of air strikes against Serbia beginning on the 24th of March 1999 to stop Belgrade's crackdown against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. The primary purpose of the campaign was to end violence and repression and force Milosevic's to withdraw his military, police and para-military forces from Kosovo (see NATO statement from 1999). See more cases about NATO and the Balkans here.