Border countries. As you correctly note. So now almost all the western border of Russia is with "border countries" right across that little line on a map as on a bit of real estate. And of course, NATO has never been an aggressor, as they weren't under Clinton when bombing non-NATO Serbia for three months over non-NATO Kosovo. Not that NATO has any "peacekeeping" forces in a non-NATO Kosovo today, other than the KFOR. But what the heck.... Just border countries.
As to border countries and the US, how are we doing in non-NATO Syria, which does not want us involved? It's a question, one among many. Like Obama's bombing of Libya, which is quite the mess today. Like Nuland's delightful diplomacy caught on audio recording, "f*ck Europe."
The whole is a very big place with many players, not all friendly to the current crop of Democrats and RINOs which -- until hopefully this week's election topples some -- have earned us nothing. Nothing but more than $172 trillion in unfunded liabilities.
My arithmetic says we're broke and running on a credit card. What does your arithmetic say? "Running totals" these days, or is it just too easy to not see the largest picture?
My arithmetic says that was a rambling mess of a post.