Putin wants to push NATO away from Russia. Instead, he's getting more NATO troops on his border.

[BeyondGeography]

From WaPo:

…Putin’s demands to effectively dismantle NATO in its current form as a condition for Russian de-escalation appear to have had the opposite effect. In the Dec. 17 ultimatum presented by the Kremlin to the United States, Russia said it wanted commitments that NATO would withdraw troops from countries that joined the alliance after 1997 — meaning all of Eastern Europe — and for NATO to agree to admit no further members, including Ukraine. Instead, the often fractious NATO alliance has rallied to defend its mission and its principles, responding to the threat against Ukraine by sending reinforcements to the area Putin wants them to vacate.

…For NATO, the moment has brought about a rejuvenation after decades of drift. In the years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, NATO troops have strayed far from their original theater of operations in Europe, embarking on missions to train local forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, counter piracy off Somalia and escort food aid through the Gulf of Aden.

More recently, the alliance has been squabbling over whether it should be engaged in countering the expansion of China, or perhaps getting involved in addressing climate change, all in an effort to remain relevant in the post-Soviet world.

But faced with Putin’s challenge, the NATO alliance has been reminded of why it was created in the first place — to defend Europe.

More at https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/02/01/nato-russia-baltics-estonia/?utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social

[Texaswitchy]

1. Putin did his best to destroy NATO with Trump in office.

Thankful we have President Biden.

[BeyondGeography]

2. He misses his puppet

[Texaswitchy]

3. He sure does.

Putin was running the White House.