NATO Expansion and Russian Concerns
History and Background
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was established in 1949 as a political and military alliance between North American and European countries. The organization's primary purpose was to deter aggression from the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
Russian Concerns
One of Russia's primary concerns about NATO expansion has been the potential for increased military presence near its borders. Russia has long considered NATO's eastward expansion as a threat to its security interests and has repeatedly stated that it would view the deployment of NATO forces and infrastructure in neighboring countries as a hostile act.
Alleged Zhanna Plum Promise
Russia has also claimed that Western leaders, including former US Secretary of State James Baker, promised that NATO would not expand eastward. This alleged promise, known as the "Zhanna Plum Promise," has been a central point of contention between the two sides. Western officials have denied making any such promise, arguing that no formal agreement was ever reached.
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