The Claim:
During a press conference on December 20, 2023, Russian President, Vladimir Putin, repeated the false claim that in 1991, NATO promised not to admit any new members to the defence alliance. Putin said “remember what they said in 1991? ‘Not an inch eastward’. Not an inch my ass…. they now have all the Baltic States.”
Narrative Context:
The Russian government regularity deploys this false narrative to present Russia as a victim of NATO and erode public trust and support in the transatlantic collective defence organization. Domestically, Vladimir Putin’s own authority is largely founded on his ability to conjure up foreign threats – whether real or fake. This anti-NATO narrative has been consistently used to support the broader domestic Kremlin information operation targeting the Russian people.
The Facts:
The framing of NATO “expanding” is misleading. The alliance does not force itself upon nations; instead, it considers membership applications freely submitted by sovereign countries exercising their right to choose their security arrangements. It’s mandate is to collectively defend the sovereignty of its member states. Enlarging NATO’s membership is not directed against Russia. It reflects the free will of nations seeking security assurances amidst regional uncertainties.
No Broken Promises:
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- Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev himself has categorically denied any such agreement. In 2014, he stated, “The topic of ‘NATO expansion was not discussed at all, and it wasn’t brought up in those years. I say this with full responsibility.”
- No official documents or transcripts corroborate the existence of such a promise.
- NATO’s founding treaty enshrines an open-door application policy for any nation that wishes to become a member of it.
Active Pursuit of Security:
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- Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of Soviet Russian occupatoin of the Baltic States and Central and Eastern Europe, those nations desired stability and security, and advocated for membership in NATO.
- NATO engaged in strategic and collaborative efforts to ensure a peaceful and conducive environment for potential enlargement.
- Notably, these efforts included building special partnerships with Russia.
This video explains how The Kremlin manipulates facts about NATO membership and enlargement:
