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Historically Russia rationally and now irrationally have always viewed outsiders as a potential threat. “Germans/Latins” from the west, Chinese (other easterners Mongols, Japanese, etc.) from the east. It makes little sense now (except perhaps the Chinese & Moslems!) but its in their psyche. They have always had an inferiority complex toward the West & a abject fear of the East. During the communist days it was useful to magnify it to keep their people in line. Now it makes little sense but its there.

Pure Russian propaganda and a convoluted rationale for Soviet and now Russian imperialism. The Soviets/Russians have been an expansionist power for hundreds of years. Whether it was Catherine the Great or Stalin, Russia has always eyed expansion of its (evil) empire.

I lived two years in Warsaw during the days of Solidarnosc' and martial law. The Soviets were hated in Poland as oppressors along with its puppet governments. I also served as a naval officer in a NATO command during the late 1960s. NATO is/was always a defensive alliance. There were no plans to invade Russia.

When the Soviet Union collapsed, the Baltic and former Warsaw Pact countries begged to join NATO because they feared that Russia would eventually try to reclaim their countries. Article 5 was their insurance policy that the US would stop any attempt to invade their territory by the Russians. Ukraine was trying to apply to enter NATO in the late 1990s. I am sure they wished that they had joined given the annexation of Crimea.

By dividing NATO into an Atlantic alliance in which we are a member and a Central European-Baltic in which we are not - maybe with “interested observer” status. The “Western Threat (the USA, etc.)” is more diffuse. Its now indirect and can be argued by us & “the Atlantic Alliance” the Central-Baltic Alliance “ is not our front yard! We’re cordial neighbors!”. Anyway it won’t happen The Central Alliance will have to be nuclear capable in order to be credible.

Pure nonsense. Any "Central Alliance" is a pipe dream. These countries want to be part of NATO and enjoy the protections it offers, especially Article 5 and that obligates the US and the rest of NATO to come to their defense if attacked.