[Widget Jr]

No one forced those countries to join NATO. Russia was the reason why those countries wanted to join NATO. NATO members are free to leave if they choose, such as when France left NATO in 1966.

Russian territorial expansion is by invasion or coercion, not voluntary democratic process. Chechnya and Georgia are not free to leave. IF Putin has his way, neither will Ukraine.

To the nations on the receiving end of Putin's December 2021 ultimatum, he made it clear wants the USSR back.

[wildcard_redneck]

"No one forced those countries to join NATO. Russia was the reason why those countries wanted to join NATO. NATO members are free to leave if they choose, such as when France left NATO in 1966."

I am certain that a lot of the Eastern European countries were jonesing to march east with NATO for the spoils but that doesn't seem to be working out well. The front marches west.

[wildcard_redneck]

"No one forced those countries to join NATO. Russia was the reason why those countries wanted to join NATO. NATO members are free to leave if they choose, such as when France left NATO in 1966."

I am certain that a lot of the Eastern European countries were jonesing to march east with NATO for the spoils but that doesn't seem to be working out well. The front marches west.