DISINFO: NATO provokes Russia in front of its border
SUMMARY
NATO provokes Russia in front of its border.
Contrary to the promises made to Gorbachev, NATO has advanced to the Russian border, and as thanks for the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact and the reunification of Germany, Russia continues to be encircled and provoked with maneuvers (Defender 21) in front of its border.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative, claiming that NATO is waging an aggressive campaign against Russia.
NATO exercises are not aimed against Russia. Their aim is to enhance mutual defence capabilities and make the situation in the region more stable. Since NATO is a military organisation, it is obvious that it stages war games, such as Defender 2021, from time to time. However, it is also a political alliance that promotes democratic values and enables its members to consult and cooperate on defence and security-related issues to solve problems, build trust and, in the long run, prevent conflict.
It is Russia that is continually militarising the region. Since 2014, it has been widely criticised for staging provocative military exercises along Ukraine’s border and in the vicinity of the Baltic nations, which are NATO members. In response to this criticism, Russia says it has the right to stage war games in its territory. At the same time, Moscow is blasting NATO for staging joint military exercises, which in fact pose no threat to anyone in the region.
Concerning the promises made to Gorbachev, the statement 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:
"The topic of ‘NATO expansion’ was not discussed at all, and it wasn’t brought up in those years. I say this with full responsibility."
Moreover, 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.
See more narratives about NATO’s alleged belligerent agenda against Russia.
This disinformation message appeared in the same article as the claim that Crimea was annexed as the result of the US-financed coup in Ukraine.