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What do poverty rates or liberal democracy have to do with NATO expansion? Russians will be sensitive to what happens in their frontier regardless of who sits
by erw1 8y ago
What do poverty rates or liberal democracy have to do with NATO expansion?
Russians will be sensitive to what happens in their frontier regardless of who sits in the Kremlin, or which party dominates the Duma. They don't want to see an alien military alliance straddle their borderlands. That's the story. That's the WHOLE story. And it won't change even if Putin drops dead today, and Navalny is elected president tomorrow.
- sequence7 8y agoI was addressing two separate points, the effect of liberal democracy on Russia and the NATO expansion being treated as a threat. I probably should have made that more clear.
- gandhium 8y ago> They don't want to see an alien military alliance straddle their borderlands. And all countries that bordered Russia don't want to see Russian military straddle their borderlands. So... the obvious solution - counterbalance.
- erw1 8y agoThe obvious solution seems to have backfired.
- gandhium 8y agoWhy? So far Russia invaded only neighbors which weren't in NATO, so apparently joining NATO was (and still is) right way to protect your country from Russian aggression.
- erw1 8y agoI suppose that means Ukraine and Georgia should try to join NATO. Then Russians won't invade them anymore.