Quote:
Originally Posted by DRG
This is not a Black/white issue and it didn't just suddenly happen
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I'm not saying anything most of you don't already know ( or should )
I think it is safe to say that in NATO countries NATO is seen strictly as a Defensive alliance designed solely to deter aggression against any one member. Any potential aggressor would know that the doctrine of mutual defence is (theoretically...) "carved in stone" and any attack on one is an attack on them all and ASSUMING those "leading" those NATO nations don't suddenly develop feet of clay an attack on a NATO member nation is not something to go into lightly.
OTOH NATO is not viewed the same in Russia. Warsaw pact was an ( obviously ) Russian "friendly" alliance and buffer between Russia and NATO
That buffer no longer exists and NATO has brought into the alliance former WP/ Soviet Union states that now directly border Russia and there had been rumours about bringing in Ukraine as well though I don't know how serious that was. It is a certainty that the previous Ukrainian President would never have entertained the idea but Zelenskyy looks west, not east and that complicates things
"Good fences make for good neighbours"..... if one neighbour moves the fence into what you consider your property that creates a problem
..........and now we have a problem. If Ukraine falls, then Russia will have a greatly expanded land border with the European Union which, of course, is the reverse of an EU /NATO Ukraine which the EU/ NATO will no doubt view as a serious threat that is little different from the one an EU /NATO Ukraine did the Russians.
"May you live in interesting times"
...it seems we are