DISINFO: NATO is preparing to attack Russia
SUMMARY
NATO is developing a new plan of military operations in Europe that involves countering mythical “Russian aggression”, the rapid deployment of troops from all over the continent and direct military support from the United States. Although Moscow has no plans to attack Europe, it is compelled to take defensive measures in light of NATO’s eastward expansion.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about NATO threatening Russia and NATO's expansion. NATO is a defensive alliance. Its purpose is to protect its member states. NATO's exercises and military deployments are not directed against Russia – nor any other country. However, in March 2014, in response to Russia's aggressive actions against Ukraine, NATO suspended practical cooperation with Russia. The claim that NATO is encircling Russia is one of the myths about NATO. Russia's land border is just over 20,000 kilometres long. Of that, less than one-sixteenth (1,215 kilometres), is shared with NATO members. Russia has land borders with 14 countries. Only five of them are NATO members. Outside NATO territory, the Alliance only has a military presence in two places: Kosovo and Afghanistan. Both operations are carried out with a United Nations mandate, endorsed by the UN Security Council, of which Russia is a member. In contrast, Russia has military bases and soldiers in three of the EU's Eastern neighbourhood countries, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, without the consent of their governments. NATO's presence in the Baltic countries or Poland is at the request of the host nations. NATO does not "expand" in the imperialistic sense described by the Kremlin and Russian state media, but instead considers the applications of candidate countries that want to join the defensive alliance of their own national will. NATO enlargement is not directed against Russia.