DISINFO: NATO troops in Baltic countries and Poland threaten the security of Russia and Belarus
SUMMARY
The security of Russia and Belarus is threatened by the military infrastructure and the presence of foreign troops of the North Atlantic Alliance on the territory of the neighbouring Baltic countries and Poland.
RESPONSE
Recurring disinformation narrative about NATO and encircled Russia.
NATO is a defensive alliance and does not seek confrontation and poses no threat to Russia.
Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and destabilisation of eastern Ukraine is the source of NATO's concerns about the challenge Russia poses to the post-Cold War security order in Europe. As a result, NATO has reinforced the security of the Alliance in the Baltic region. In 2016, at NATO's Warsaw Summit, it was decided to establish an enhanced forward presence (eFP) to the Baltic states and Poland as of 2017. The decision to establish eFP is based on the main principle of NATO that an attack on one Ally will be considered an attack on the whole Alliance.
NATO suspended practical cooperation with Russia in 2014, because of Russia's actions against Ukraine. NATO has a dual-track approach to Russia: strong deterrence and defence, including through the Enhanced Forward Presence in Poland and the Baltic States, and meaningful dialogue. Learn more about NATO-Russia relations here.
See similar cases: NATO uses false “Russian threat” as pretext to expand its presence near Russian border, NATO exploits the idea of a “Russian threat” to deploy near Russian border, NATO does not serve the purpose of war prevention, it continues to wage wars.