Did NATO ‘betray’ Russia by expanding to the East?

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The article delves into Russia's claims of NATO's betrayal stemming from alleged broken promises of the 1990s regarding NATO expansion. It recounts past discussions between US and Soviet officials, stressing the oral nature of assurances given. The continuous NATO enlargement, notably the inclusion of Eastern European countries post-1995, is seen by Russia as a betrayal, fueling tensions, especially concerning Ukraine's potential membership. Despite Russia's grievances, the West emphasizes NATO's defensive purpose, highlighting agreements like the NATO-Russia Founding Act of 1997 that aimed for peace and security cooperation.

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Grégoire SAUVAGE

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The article recounts a 1990 discussion between US Secretary of State James A. Baker and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, where an oral agreement was made that NATO wouldn't expand past East Germany, shedding light on the origin of the betrayal claim

Russia claims that the West broke a promise in the 1990s not to expand NATO eastward, using this claim to justify threats towards Ukraine

The US and NATO dismissed Moscow's security demands, reiterating NATO's open-door policy to any nation meeting its membership criteria

The issue of NATO enlargement has long fueled US-Russia tensions, with Russia viewing NATO's anti-missile shields in Romania and Poland with suspicion, and opposing Ukraine's potential NATO membership, reviving old grievances amidst the ongoing Ukraine crisis

At the Munich Security Conference in 2007, Putin accused the West of violating pledges by enlarging NATO, particularly citing Baltic countries' membership since 2004

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