DISINFO: Promises about non-expansion of NATO were thrown into a bin by the West
DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS
Tags:
NATO EU/NATO enlargement West Sergei Lavrov Anti-Russian Encircling Russia Military exercise

DISINFO: Promises about non-expansion of NATO were thrown into a bin by the West

SUMMARY

The promises made about non-expansion of NATO, about not building military infrastructure in the east, and no deployment of significant combat forces on the territory of new members, were simply rudely thrown into a bin by the West.

During the five waves of NATO expansion, the Alliance has come to the borders of Russia. Now it is actively developing these territories militarily, building up ground forces, aviation, increasing the scale of exercises in the Black Sea. All of these current actions of the West grossly violate the obligations previously assumed.

RESPONSE

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about NATO and NATO enlargement.

This claim has been debunked numerous times. There is no evidence that any Western leader ever gave assurances to former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev about NATO’s pledge not to admit new members. Gorbachev himself denied this claim in an interview in 2014. NATO members have never made any political or legally binding commitments not to extend the Alliance beyond the borders of a reunified Germany. Read more about the myths and realities of NATO enlargement.

Also, NATO does not "expand" in the imperialistic sense as described by pro-Kremlin media. Rather, it considers the applications of candidate countries who exercise their free choice of alliance affiliation and want to join the Alliance. NATO enlargement is not directed against Russia.

With its destabilising actions and policies including the ongoing illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea, Russia has violated the NATO-Russia Founding Act and its international commitments. As a response, the Alliance enhanced its forward presence in its eastern part, with four multinational battalion-size battlegroups in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, on a rotational basis.

Read more similar claiming that NATO forgot promises not to enlarge to the East, The West promised that NATO will not move eastward, or The US and Russia had an agreement that NATO wouldn't be enlarged.

For more debunks of pro-Kremlin myths about Ukraine see here.

Embed

Related disinfo cases

Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

    Your opinion matters!

    Data Protection Information *

      Subscribe to the Disinfo Review

      Your weekly update on pro-Kremlin disinformation

      Data Protection Information *

      The Disinformation Review is sent through Mailchimp.com. See Mailchimp’s privacy policy and find out more on how EEAS protects your personal data.