DISINFO: NATO is an aggressive bloc created for confrontation
SUMMARY
NATO is an aggressive bloc created for the purpose of confrontation. It has been moving towards the Russian borders for two decades.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about NATO.
NATO is a defensive alliance with primary aims to maintain peace and safeguard the independence, security and territorial integrity of its members. NATO constitutes a system of collective defence whereby its member states agree to mutual defence in response to an attack by any external party.
NATO's official policy is that "the Alliance does not seek confrontation and poses no threat to Russia." NATO didn't invade Georgia; NATO didn't invade Ukraine. Russia did.
Central and Eastern European countries began seeking NATO membership in the early 1990s. NATO actively sought to create a cooperative environment that was conducive to enlargement while simultaneously building special relations with Russia.
Furthermore, the claim about NATO "expansion" misrepresents the process of NATO enlargement. NATO does not "expand" but considers the applications of candidate countries that want to join. Decisions on membership are taken by consensus among all Allies.
Since Russia began its aggressive actions against Ukraine, Russian officials have accused NATO of a series of threats and hostile actions.
Read five Russian Myths debunked here.
See similar cases in our database: The role of NATO is to increase the confrontation with Russia; NATO aims to destabilise Europe; Russophobic Baltic NATO-States responsible for turning defensive NATO-alliance into a confrontation with Russia.