CSS Current Affairs | Effects of NATO’s Expansion on the Russia-Ukraine War
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Outline
1- Introduction
2- Historical overview of NATO expansion
3- Role of NATO’s eastward expansion in the Russia-Ukraine war
- ✓Threat to Russian security
- Case in point: Russia wants to stop post-Soviet countries from assimilating into the West in particular ways that the Kremlin believes it pose significant risks to Russia’s security.
- ✓Sphere of influence
- Case in point: According to Putin, Ukraine is not a state because it lacks sovereignty; small or weak states are merely tools in the hands of powerful nations
- ✓Broken promises of NATO
- Case in point: You assured us that [NATO] would not advance Eastward by a single inch in the 1990s. Putin declared, “You shamelessly cheated us.”
- ✓Defense action against Western encroachment
- Case in point: As China’s President Xi Jinping told President Biden a Chinese proverb: “He who tied the bell to the tiger must take it off.”
- ✓Western support for Ukraine
- Case in point: In April, President Joe Biden authorized military help of over $61 billion (£49 billion), and diplomats report that NATO allies have committed 40 billion euros in military aid for Ukraine by 2024.
- ✓NATO’s deterrence measures
- Case in point: According to the US, artillery, long-range precision-guided missiles, and air defense interceptors have now reached the front lines. According to the US Department of Defense, additional weapons for Patriot air defense systems will be sent to Ukraine along with more Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (Himars).
4- Critical analysis
5- Conclusion
Answer to the Question
Introduction
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is an organization that ensures collective security and defense among its member states and enhances peace and stability. However, NATO plays a vital role in the war between Russia and Ukraine through its Eastward expansion. NATO’s Eastward expansion affected the Russia-Ukraine war because its expansion was a threat to Russian security, Russia claims the broken promises of NATO, and Russia took defense action against Western encroachment because of Western support for Ukraine and NATO’s deterrence measures. Furthermore, this issue can be resolved by prioritizing a humanitarian ceasefire, intensifying diplomatic efforts and peace talks, and implementing existing agreements. Thus, this question will answer the role of NATO’s eastward expansion in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Origin of NATO and its eastward expansion
Before moving down into the complexities of the topic under discussion, it is essential to understand the Origin of NATO and its eastward expansion. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was established in 1949 for mutual defense against aggression. It is an organization that ensures collective security and defense among its member states and enhances peace and stability. It has 32 countries of European and North American alliances.
NATO grew throughout the 1990s and early 2000s: first, in 2009, it added Albania and Croatia; then, in 2009, it added seven additional nations, including the former Soviet republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania; and lastly, in 2009, it added the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland. Furthermore, NATO said in 2008 that Ukraine “will become a member” of the bloc. This announcement caused the problem and affected the relationship of Russia and Ukraine and led them to war. Thus, NATO’s eastward expansion was a direct threat to Russia’s security, which is the opponent of NATO.
Role of NATO’s eastward expansion in the Russia-Ukraine war
- ✓Threat to Russian security
Now, moving towards the role of NATO’s eastward expansion in the Russia and Ukraine war, NATO’s eastward expansion is a direct threat to the security and sovereignty of Russia. However, if Ukraine becomes the alliance of NATO then it will be like a foe at the doorstep because Ukraine plays the role of a buffer state for Russia. Russia wants to stop post-Soviet countries from assimilating into the West in particular ways that the Kremlin believes pose significant risks to Russia’s security. The expansion of NATO is a cause of fear of its geopolitical influence on Russia. It is a fear for Russia’s territorial integrity. Consequently, NATO forces are a threat to the Russian sovereignty and security.
- ✓Sphere of influence
Likewise, NATO’s eastward expansion caused the Russia and Ukraine war because NATO impacted the Russian sphere of influence. As per Stephen Kotkin, a Russian history professor at Princeton University, Putin feels that Russia has an accurate right to a sphere of influence in its “near abroad.” According to Putin, Ukraine is not a state because it lacks sovereignty; small or weak states are merely tools in the hands of powerful nations; where we perceive Moscow’s aggression, Putin interprets it as a means of defense; if Russia is unable to maintain control over Ukraine, the West will do so; consequently, nations such as Ukraine serve as staging grounds for Soviet disintegration. Thus, Putin wanted to maintain its influence in its near states to protect Russia.
- ✓Broken promises of NATO
Moreover, NATO’s eastward expansion has an impact on the Russia and Ukraine war because Russia claims that NATO has broken its promises. A “guarantee of non-expansion of NATO to the East” was later declared by President Mikhail Gorbachev, who took part in the 1990 discussions during the Cold War. You assured us that [NATO] would not advance Eastward by a single inch in the 1990s. Putin declared, “You shamelessly cheated us.” Furthermore, Russia was blamed that they have broken the promise and started expansion eastward just for the sack influence and wanted to threaten Russia through all around the alliance under the name NATO. Thus, NATO’s eastward expansion has a great impact on the Russia and Ukraine war because Russia claims that NATO has broken its promises and wants to establish influence on it.
- ✓Defense action against Western encroachment
Furthermore, NATO’s eastward expansion has an impact on the Russia and Ukraine war because it is a defense action against Western encroachment. Russia’s attack on Ukraine is a defense action because Ukraine is very important to Russia because of its language, culture, and traditions. The growing ties of Ukraine with NATO were a direct threat to Russia. In his remarks to President Biden on March 18, Chinese President Xi Jinping cited a proverb from his native country, “He who tied the bell to the tiger must take it off,” to illustrate his point that legalistic arguments might not be as prudent as showing respect and careful consideration for powerful nations. Implicit in this is also a traditional understanding of international relations, which holds that major powers control spheres of influence and that smaller powers must accept them. Thus, it means that the one who created a problem should be the one to resolve it because of peace. This is the defense action of Russia against Western encroachment.
- ✓Western support for Ukraine
Similarly, NATO’s eastward expansion has an impact on the Russia and Ukraine war because Western countries, especially the NATO alliance support Ukraine. This indicates that NATO establishing its influence in the eastward to counter Russian influence in the eastward. In April, President Joe Biden authorized military help of over $61 billion (£49 billion), and diplomats report that NATO allies have committed 40 billion euros in military aid for Ukraine by 2024. The presence of NATO forces and financial aid support to Ukraine from Western countries have encouraged Ukraine and other countries against Russian advances. Thus, this Western support has turned the conflict into a proxy battleground between Russia and the West and this became the cause of the attack on Ukraine.
- ✓NATO’s deterrence measures
Last but not least, NATO’s eastward expansion has an impact on the Russia and Ukraine war through NATO’s deterrence measures. Russia’s control over the area has been directly challenged by NATO’s expansion of its collective defense capabilities. According to the US, artillery, long-range precision-guided missiles, and air defense interceptors have now reached the front lines. According to the US Department of Defense, additional weapons for Patriot air defense systems will be sent to Ukraine along with more Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (Himars). Furthermore, NATO’s preparedness and military presence in Eastern Europe, including joint drills and force deployment, provide a strong deterrence to further Russian attacks. So, by assuring Eastern European countries of their safety under NATO’s protection, these efforts may deter Russia from intensifying its military operations outside of Ukraine.
Critical analysis
Critically, NATO’s eastward expansion affected the Russia-Ukraine War in many ways. The first may see Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and its subsequent backing of separatist movements in Eastern Ukraine as responses to Ukraine’s pro-Western stance and ambitions to join NATO. Moreover, Russia used the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO as a justification for its full-scale invasion of that country in 2022. Although it hasn’t intervened directly, NATO’s military assistance to Ukraine has improved its defenses and complicated Russia’s military goals. NATO’s eastward expansion is a direct threat to the security and sovereignty of Russia. NATO wants to counter the influence of Russia in East Europe and make its alliance at the doorstep of Russia. It is a direct strategic threat to Russia. NATO is making its proxies in this region and it is considered a direct indication of the next cold war.
Conclusion
To sum up, NATO’s eastward expansion has made it a major player in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The Russia-Ukraine war was impacted by NATO’s eastward expansion since it threatened Russian security, Russia accuses NATO of breaching its pledges, and Russia retaliated against Western encroachment due to Western backing for Ukraine and NATO’s deterrent tactics. In addition, this problem may be remedied by giving humanitarian ceasefire first priority, stepping up diplomatic efforts and peace negotiations, and carrying out previous agreements.
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