DISINFO: NATO continued to grow despite promises given to Gorbachev
SUMMARY
Throughout its history, the alliance has steadily expanded. In 1949, it included 12 member countries. There are now 30 of them. The bloc continued to grow even after Gorbachev received verbal promises that there would be no NATO expansion to the East. The Soviet Union collapsed, the alliance continued to expand. Now Russia is demanding written security guarantees.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about NATO enlargement.
The claim is now a part of a Kremlin attempt to mobilise domestic Russian support for its war by deliberately playing on the traditional scare factor: 'Agreesive NATO planning to attack Russia'.
This claim has been debunked numerous times. NATO did not promise not to expand into eastern and central Europe back in 1990, which was confirmed by the former president of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev. Back in 2014, Gorbachev said with full responsibility that “The topic of ‘NATO expansion was not discussed at all, and it wasn’t brought up in those years.”
Central and Eastern European countries began seeking NATO membership in the early 1990s. NATO actively sought to create a cooperative environment that was conducive to enlargement while simultaneously building special relations with Russia.
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 alliance affiliation. NATO enlargement is not directed against Russia.
By signing the NATO-Russia Founding Act, Russia also pledged to uphold "respect for sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all states and their inherent right to choose the means to ensure their own security".
See our guide to deciphering pro-Kremlin disinformation around Putin's war.