NATO has been remarkable at bringing peace to Europe. It was unthinkable at one time the English and French, French and Germans, Germans and Slavs, and so on, could all coexist in an alliance. It also assures the right for smaller nations to exist. There have been a few blips, but for the most part, Europe has been the most stable and peaceful as it ever has been and it is all due to the alliance. No country has ever been forced to join NATO, but they do so because they want to.
I think the real fear that Russian leaders have is that is shows that empires and mega-states are not the way of the future.
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"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
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