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UK'S JOHNSON ANNOUNCES RAFT OF


NEW SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA, BANS
AEROFLOT

19 Feb, 2022 13:20 / Home / Russia & FSU Top stories

Does NATO really pose a threat


to Russia?
The growing standoff between East and
West is a hangover from the Cold War
Russian troops ‘trying
By Glenn Diesen, Professor at the University of to seize’ Chernobyl
South-Eastern Norway and an editor at the Russia nuclear power plant,
in Global Affairs journal. Follow him on Zelensky claims
Twitter @glenn_diesen.
Kiev requests
emergency EU
assistance – European
commissioner

Putin will decide when


Ukraine offensive ends –
Kremlin

Russia responds to Kiev


cutting diplomatic ties
© Sean Gallup / Getty Images
China points finger over

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Russia has laid down its red lines, insisting that Ukraine offensive
NATO expansion towards its borders poses an
unacceptable challenge to its policy of so-called NATO activating
“indivisible security.” As the US-led military bloc ‘defense plans’ for allies
insists it exists solely to defend its members, – Stoltenberg
Moscow’s requests for mutual security assurances
have revealed the two sides no longer even speak
the same language. Erdogan takes stance on
Russia’s Ukraine
offensive
Russia’s red lines
Western governments committed themselves to a
new defensive doctrine in all the main pan-European Putin announces 'special
security agreements signed in the 1990s. The operation' in Donbass
principle of “indivisible security” was explicitly
defined in these agreements as the “commitment
not to pursue national security interests at the
expense of others,” which reflected the larger
Subscribe to RT
objective of ending the dividing lines in Europe.
newsletter to get
Although, Russia was weak in the 1990s and the
news highlights of
West could ignore these security guarantees by
the day right in
expanding NATO. Russia has now recovered,
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established firm red lines, and has demanded
security guarantees based on these existing pan-
European security agreements. E-mail

The US and NATO, however, insist that “indivisible We offer you the
security” is interpreted as the right to choose possibility to receive
alliance membership freely. The creative re- RT's news highlights
every Monday,
interpretation of very specific agreements does not
Wednesday and Friday
clarify how the expansion of Cold War military
by email.
alliances would achieve the overarching objective of
ending the Cold War legacy of dividing lines in
Europe. Subscribe

Enemy at the gates?


Even Western
pundits who RT Features
oppose further
NATO
expansionism
tend to dismiss
the idea that
NATO could be
considered a

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threat. Instead, Read more: NATO expansionism How Ukraine’s


those pushing for has suffered a major setback ‘Revolution of Dignity’
less led to war, poverty and
confrontation the rise of the far right
usually appeal to the recognition of Russia’s history, FEATURE

“siege mentality” and other signs of irrational


insecurity.

Threats consist of both capabilities and intentions.


NATO’s arguments boil down to insisting that its
growing offensive capabilities should not worry ‘The mouse kills the
Russia, because the bloc has benign intentions. cat’: Augusto Cesar
However, even if Moscow believed that NATO’s Sandino’s rebellion
statements are sincere, states do not base their against the US FEATURE
security on current intentions.

Furthermore, not long ago, it was commonplace


across the West to argue that President Trump
could start a major war with another great power.
More recently, US Senator Roger Wicker casually
suggested that America could engage in a war with How Crimea became
Russia over Ukraine, in which even the use of part of Russia and why
nuclear weapons should not be taken off the table. it was gifted to Ukraine
Evelyn Farkas, the former US deputy assistant FEATURE

secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine, Eurasia in


the Obama administration, and former senior
adviser to the Supreme Allied Commander in NATO, Podcasts All podcasts
also penned an op-ed in which she argued that “The
US Must Prepare for War Against Russia over
Ukraine.”

We must not only condemn


Russia’s illegal occupations of
Ukraine and Georgia, but we
must demand a withdrawal from
both countries by a certain date
and organize coalition forces
willing to take action to enforce

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it… The horrible possibility


exists that Americans, with our
European allies, must use our
military to roll back Russians –
even at the risk of direct
combat.

Escalation dominance
Even if Washington would not follow the reckless
advice of going to war with Russia, the growing US
military presence along Russian borders can give
the US escalation dominance. The concept of
escalation dominance refers to the ability to increase
military pressure and possibly resort to limited use of
force, based on the logic that the stakes can be
continuously increased until the other side is
compelled to capitulate. With the knowledge that the
US could defeat Russia in a war, the US could use
its ability to escalate tensions to compel Russia to
capitulate on strategically important issues.

READ MORE: Russia is dividing Europe – but


not in the way you’d think

The intentions of states are to some extent shaped


by capabilities. Dominant military capabilities enable
the US to put undue pressure on adversaries and
even to launch limited military strikes against weaker
states with impunity, as any retaliation would result
in more comprehensive military actions. Escalation
dominance also makes military pressure a more
appealing instrument of power and could embolden
the US military to take greater risks. The US
tendency to fly its nuclear bombers and sail its
warships along the Russian borders are dire
warnings about the threat of potential US escalation
dominance on Russia’s doorstep.

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The defensive alliance


NATO also argues that Russia has nothing to fear
as it is a “defensive alliance” of peaceful
democracies. However, it would be difficult to
convince the Serbs or Libyans that NATO is a
“defensive alliance” without redefining ‘defensive’ in
new and creative ways. The bloc insists it has not
deviated from its status as a defensive alliance since
these countries were attacked to defend civilians.
The US also recently concluded an agreement to
establish four military bases on Norwegian soil to
“defend” Washington’s interests in the Arctic.
Redefining “defensive alliance” in such broad terms
distorts the meanings of the words. 

READ MORE: How US state media rebrands Nazi


collaborators as freedom fighters

NATO’s actions in Ukraine are also defined as


defensive. Member states backed the toppling of
President Yanukovich to support “the Ukrainian
people,” and thereafter supported Kiev’s “anti-
terrorist operation” against the Donbass, arresting
the opposition leader and shutting down the
opposition media to defend from a Russian “hybrid-
war.” At the moment, the US has launched an
information war alleging an imminent Russian
invasion to instil bloc discipline and mobilise the
Europeans against Russia in defence of Ukraine.

Information warfare
Language conveys meaning and propaganda is
intended to distort meaning. The ability of redefine
security is the result of information dominance, as a
key source of US power. Karl Rove, the former
White House Deputy Chief of Staff, purportedly
stated in 2002: “We’re an empire now, and when we
act, we create our own reality. And while you’re
studying that reality – judiciously, as you will – we’ll
act again, creating new realities.” A constructed
reality is that the world’s largest military alliance that
has continued its original mission of containing
Russia, is not a real threat against Russia. However,

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the empire is in relative decline and in these


negotiations the US is being pushed towards
returning to an objective reality. 

The statements, views and opinions


expressed in this column are solely those of
the author and do not necessarily represent
those of RT.

OPED

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joe850 • 2 days ago


NATO around Russia is like a gang of hyenas, around
a pride of lions.
1 • Reply • Share ›

wilmers13 • 3 days ago


NATO, if it were just a military defense alliance it
would not be a threat in the current situation.

What makes NATO a problem is their Trojan features.


They have been aiming for a territory where NATO
and EU membership are universal. Then get the EU
into an all dominant TTIP system and the sovereignty
of countries is gone.

One of the terms used for that is the 'euro-atlantic


integration', i.e. making everyone like America
because nobody can believe that America would
integrate anything in their country with the European
component. Russia does not want to adapt to the
US. The idea that America will force that on Russia is
the threat of NATO.
1 • Reply • Share ›

Bork Bees • 3 days ago


Soon the Evil NATO will be used for fertilizer pushing
up flowers

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Does NATO really pose a threat to Russia? — RT Russia & Former So... https://www.rt.com/russia/549755-nato-real-threat-stability/

up flowers
1 • Reply • Share ›

neron crespin • 3 days ago


Well,we wait too long for an invassion,now we need
to sanction Russia for not invading.
1 • Reply • Share ›

Avatar

Bork Bees > Guest • 3 days ago


have you joined up????
1 • Reply • Share ›

HUA BIN • 3 days ago


lots of words for a simple fact. the very existence of
nato is to be a threat to Russia. why else does it
exist? to fight slovenia?
2 • Reply • Share ›

Rsoletrump • 3 days ago


I think that the US is by far the greatest at siege
mentality and irrational insecurity.
1 • Reply • Share ›

Hugh Williams • 3 days ago


When NATO was founded it was openly discussed
that it was to keep the Russians out and the
Germans down. Unfortunately Germany is still under
US military occupation.
3 • Reply • Share ›

Bork Bees > Hugh Williams • 3 days ago


Soviet Union not Russia
1 • Reply • Share ›

Antileft > Hugh Williams • 3 days ago


There’s no purpose for NATO.
4 1 • Reply • Share ›

Bork Bees > Antileft • 3 days ago


well yes starting world war 3 ... and it
does bring billions of dollars the the
Military industrial complex and the
World Bank
1 • Reply • Share ›

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varo • 3 days ago


Germany should expell all US military, and get the
control of his country. Nobody threaten Germany, so
there is not need to have a foreign military in the
German land. The US military began as occupation
forces 77 years ago and still been there. Shame!
3 1 • Reply • Share ›

Bork Bees > varo • 3 days ago


There is no Germany it is a spot that was a
country in the EU ,,, it has no borders , no
coin , no culture , no real vote ,,, part of the
Globalist One World Order
1 • Reply • Share ›

varo > Bork Bees • 2 days ago


Germani will lost 5.000 millions stoping
the N S 2, and will mpay the gas six
times more expensive. Germans
should listen
1 • Reply • Share ›

wilmers13 > Bork Bees • 3 days ago


Some people wanted to prevent that
another war should emanate from
Germany. Military action will now not
happen, in all likelihood.

The non-German population in the


territory of Germany is very high. They
can't be used for the military and the
Germans don't want to go fight ..... for
whom and what? Most come from
one-son families where the desire to
have him crippled is not high.
2 • Reply • Share ›

Bork Bees > wilmers13


• 3 days ago
time for them to take back their
countries
1 • Reply • Share ›

Antileft • 3 days ago


NATO is a globalist organization trying to eradicate
national sovereignty. So it isn’t just a threat to Russia.
It’s a threat to all nation states.
2 • Reply • Share ›

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Hugh Williams > Antileft • 3 days ago


It is more simple than that. NATO is the
foreign legion of the USA.
3 • Reply • Share ›

David Smith • 3 days ago


The biggest mass murderer in history was Russian.
1 3 • Reply • Share ›

Hugh Williams > David Smith • 3 days ago


Nonsense. The biggest mass murder was the
killing of Native Americans by shooting, germ
warfare, and starvation. This was The
HOLOCAUST.
2 • Reply • Share ›

David Smith > Hugh Williams


• 3 days ago
That's daft as it is untrue.
1 • Reply • Share ›

John > David Smith • 3 days ago


Collectively, the biggest mass murderers in
history are governments. Period. After all,
each and every one is based on the
assumption of authority to kill you if you
disobey. They cannot function without that
authority,
2 • Reply • Share ›

David Smith > John


• 3 days ago • edited
They can function without authority,
look at Stalin, Hitler, Mao Zedong,
Mussolini, Pol Pot etc and now Putin
and Kim Jong-un.

They operate by terror, how many of


them would have remained in power
had they been subjected to open and
democratic elections?

Your argument simply does not hold


when it comes to dictatorships.

Putin thinks an election is something


that arises in bed.
1 1 • Reply • Share ›

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Young Global Leaders • 3 days ago


After 70 years of alumni, the Business owners have
prevented war in Europe . For the first time in 2,000
years. Diplomatic gods.
Leave the free market alone and organize a passable
attempt at representation as well. Finish the job.
1 • Reply • Share ›

yu • 3 days ago
NATO is not a threat if it behaves as a defensive
block during USSR era. But sadly, the US has made
NATO as a tool to invade other countries. The turmoil
destruction in the ME for 2 decades is a good
example. NATO should stop its expansion towards
the East to Russia's border or Russia would force
NATO to stop. European members of NATO should
not follow the US's dictates to prevent self
destruction
4 • Reply • Share ›

prometheus11 • 4 days ago • edited


NATO was created to contain Russia after WWII by
Anglo-American financial interests centered in the
City of London and Wall Street. The new cold war
was shaped by them and was intended to divide
Eastern and Western powers into two spheres of
influence. Bertrand Russell played the role of hard
cop announcing in an article in the 1946 edition of
the Scientific Bulletin that Russia should be nuked
next and destroyed! But the soft cop Winston
Churchill won the day because the US dropped the
only two nuclear fission bombs they had on Japan.
Thus, Churchill was able to kick start the cold war
with the "Iron Curtain" speech he gave in Fulton,
Missouri in 1946. British Fops bellowed publicly
about a "special relationship" between the US and
UK. But privately they snickered that it was based on
"British brains and American braun". And that it
would rule the world after having contained the
see more

5 • Reply • Share ›

David Smith > prometheus11 • 3 days ago


Here is one for you to answer.....how did Putin
become a multi billionaire on a President's
salary? Please explain.
2 1 • Reply • Share ›

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prometheus11 > David Smith


• 2 days ago
I don't know and and what difference
does it make when measured by the
scope of potential thermonuclear
WWIII between nuclear superpowers?
If Western powers in Brussels and
Washington, continue their
provocations against Russia instead of
sitting down and discussing with
Russia and Ukraine details of a new
security architecture that guarantees
Russia and Ukraine sovereignty and
national security, free from threats by
NATO/US/UK war hawks, then this
whole matter will calm down.
Otherwise my friend while the hair may
still grow on our arms and face we are
all as good as dead!
1 • Reply • Share ›

wilmers13 > David Smith


• 3 days ago
The same way Australian Bob Hawke
(preacher's son) became a multi
millionaire.

Putin being a multi billionaire is not


verified. I reserve my judgement until
he is no longer in the position. My
hunch is that cheap translators mixed
up what is property of the President's
Department with private property. But I
reserve my judgement until a more
appropriate time.
1 • Reply • Share ›

Avatar > David Smith • 3 days ago


not you again
3 1 • Reply • Share ›

David Smith > Avatar


• 3 days ago
I will keep appearing until you
are able to answer straight
forward questions, I've never
tolerated bullies so you better
get use to me.
1 • Reply • Share ›

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Huaimek • 4 days ago


NATO by itself is not a threat to Russia , but the US
politics behind it is a threat to Russia . If NATO was
simply a European defense force no problem ,
but the US uses NATO as a political tool to do its
dirty work . The world would be a safer place if the
US left NATO . The US is Geopolitical Enemy No.1 .
3 • Reply • Share ›

Thien H Chau > Huaimek • 3 days ago


I agree with you but should NATO must follow
US order? You break you pay, not the person
told you to break to pay.
2 • Reply • Share ›

Gianni Truvianni • 4 days ago


NATO is a threat to the safety of the whole world as it
only wants to expand criminal American
exceptionalism. It even has plans of taking in
Colombia and Brazil as its members. It is good that
Russia and China along with other countries are
making a stand
4 • Reply • Share ›

wilmers13 > Gianni Truvianni • 3 days ago


NATO and other agreements like that, e.g.
AUKUS, are a threat to the respective
populations because they absorb too much
resources.

Militarism broke many countries over the


centuries.
2 • Reply • Share ›

ts • 4 days ago
It's that thing, you see a bloke in the street with a
knife. you start thinking what shall I do? Run? Avoid?
Arm yourself? The bloke says " But I'm only carrying
this for protection" but you don't really believe it. If
you can't avoid or run how do you put him off?
Here in Britain the big talk just keeps coming but it's
not dealing with what's actually there. Biden and
Johnson are sort of hoping for one big last hurrah but
they are fading away. Is this the war over the invasion
that never happened? Let's hope not. It don't look
good as the chance of resolving it is pushed farther
away. Just as long as everyone knows that you
cannot enter into a war and avoid getting hurt. Big

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cannot enter into a war and avoid getting hurt. Big


casualties would result in some sort of redemption.
How, when and where I don't know but I could
imagine.
2 • Reply • Share ›

Chin Ankh Khan • 4 days ago


NATO was first formed by those Hitelr Purged for 6
years. Which, by the way, also had colonies all over
the world. THEN, they went against the USSR
because Stalin kept arming independent movements
in countries throwing off of thier colonial
masters......and, here we sit now.....As far as Europe
is concerned, Russia broke the rules. Whatever
agreement or disagreement that exists, that ultimate
power stayed with only Europeans..then Stalin

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