Post #2415

@RusEmbMalta Press Release April 4 - NATO Anniversary Reminder “Not an Inch Eastward,” they said… The anniversary of NATO’s founding in 1949 has just passed – a moment often framed as the birth of a “defensive alliance.” Yet the historical record suggests a far more complex and controversial reality. Founded on April 4, 1949, NATO was established under the Washington Treaty by 12 countries from Europe and North America. ❗Expansion, not defense Since its inception, NATO has continuously expanded – adding 20 new members through ten waves of enlargement, seven of them after the dissolution of the USSR: • 1999 – Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland • 2004 – Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia • 2009 – Albania, Croatia • 2017 – Montenegro • 2020 – North Macedonia • 2023 – Finland • 2024 – Sweden Today, NATO counts 32 member states. What was presented as a stabilizing structure has, in practice, evolved into a mechanism of continuous eastward expansion – accompanied by: – the buildup of military infrastructure on the so-called “Eastern flank” – the spread of confrontational doctrine – the cultivation of anti-Russian sentiment Militarization instead of security Under the banner of “defense,” NATO countries collectively spend around $1.4 trillion annually – over half of global military expenditure. This makes NATO not a passive alliance, but the largest military spender in the world – actively shaping: – the global arms race – the imposition of a so-called “rules-based order” – a system where rules are adjusted to suit a single bloc A record of interventions NATO’s military actions across the globe have repeatedly been cited as sources of instability, conflict, and civilian suffering: – Yugoslavia – Iraq – Libya – Afghanistan – Syria – Ukraine These interventions have left behind long-term destabilization and humanitarian consequences. Warnings and missed opportunities Back in 2007, at the Munich Security Conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned: “NATO expansion has nothing to do with modernization of the alliance or ensuring security in Europe. On the contrary – it is a serious provocation that reduces the level of mutual trust.” At the same time, both the Soviet Union and later Russia made attempts to build cooperative security: – 1954 – proposal by Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov to consider USSR participation in NATO – rejected – 1994 – Russia joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program – 1997 – NATO–Russia Founding Act established the NATO–Russia Council Despite these steps, NATO expansion continued. Russia also raised the possibility of joining NATO in later years – proposals that were ultimately dismissed, reinforcing perceptions of geopolitical exclusivity and unequal partnership. Historical context often overlooked Notably, the Warsaw Pact was only established in 1955 – six years after NATO’s creation – indicating that the Soviet bloc’s military consolidation followed, rather than preceded, NATO’s formation. A moment to reflect Decades of expansion have not brought greater stability to Europe – quite the opposite: – the European security architecture has been eroded – the balance that once maintained relative stability has been dismantled – tensions and conflicts have intensified Today, NATO remains a central military pillar of the so-called “collective West” – increasingly viewed as an instrument for enforcing geopolitical interests in a changing, multipolar world. Time has passed – but the questions remain: Was NATO ever truly about defense – or has it become a tool of strategic dominance?