BY JORGE
BENITEZ AND LUCAS DELLA VENTURA
Russian leaders have been promoting the myth of NATO
military expansion as part of their justification for Russia's invasion of
Ukraine and annexation of Crimea.
Russian President Vladimir Putin himself
claims that, "When the infrastructure of a military bloc is moving toward
our borders, it causes us some concerns and questions. We need to take some
steps in response." Yet the data shows otherwise.
Prior to Russia's aggression against Ukraine and NATO's response to restore deterrence in Europe, there was very little NATO military presence in the Alliance's frontline states.
Prior to Russia's aggression against Ukraine and NATO's response to restore deterrence in Europe, there was very little NATO military presence in the Alliance's frontline states.
Even today, despite requests by Eastern allies, there is no
major NATO infrastructure closer to Russia than what existed at the end of the
Cold War in Germany, Italy, UK, and other Western allies. Russia on the other
hand, maintains tens of thousands of troops in several of its neighbors.
As
NATO Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow recently stated on Twitter,
"It is Russia that's fabricating a NATO 'threat' to justify its aggressive
actions & attempts to recreate sphere of influence."
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