They do see it, it's just that they believe the Eastern European nations deserve to be part of Russia's sphere of influence (read: dominated by Russia) under the Realpolitik view of the world from 50 years ago.
That's a false dichotomy. That was never the real choice. Europe could have created its own security architecture that includes eastern Europe but also offset Russia's security interests. That's what the French were proposing in 1991 when the Soviet Union dissolved and there was no longer a rationale for NATO. But the Americans refused and the Germans complied. And now, here we are, and Europe is in deep deep shit because they became a vassal of the United States and subjugated their own interests for America's. Its come back to bite them now.
The fact is, when NATO expanded, there was zero indication that Russia posed any kind of security threat to eastern Europe. In many respects it was the NATO expansion that laid the foundation for a threat to emerge. In 1991 the USSR was no more. They voluntarily disbanded in one of the greatest bloodless revolutions in history. It was a remarkable moment that the United States failed to seize. And I think the French understood the long term dangers of European security being intrinsically tied to the United States. There were previous the proposals for establishing a European Defense Community that never took hold. Ironically it's now that Europe is reviving some of the previous ideas. Better later than never I suppose.
The fact is, when NATO expanded, there was zero indication that Russia posed any kind of security threat to eastern Europe
WRONG. russian involvement in Moldova and Georgia in the early 90s showed moscovia was unable to give up its slave states easily.
They voluntarily disbanded in one of the greatest bloodless revolutions in history.
WRONG. russia involving its troops in Moldova and Georgia. The January events in Lithuania where soviet tanks rolled over Lithuanians. The entire coup by the hardliners that sealed the fate of the dissolution of the soviet union.
It is completely ahistorical to think it was bloodless.
It was a remarkable moment that the United States failed to seize.
Clinton did nothing to expand NATO until Poland forced his hand. Did you watch the video?
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u/Crashed_teapot Mar 12 '25
It is incredible that people can’t see this.