Well, yes, NATO was built to oppose Russia, that's why they refused Russia membership, and why Russia considers NATO inherently a threat. And why "Russia joins NATO" is a non-starter, Pution or no Putin.

[–] Tuuktuuk@sopuli.xyz 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (3 children)

Defending from something doesn't really mean opposing something in this sense.

[–] Aqarius@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago (2 children)

[–] Tuuktuuk@sopuli.xyz 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I've got autocorrect switched off, but these kinds of corrections have lately started happening.

Anyway, corrected "need" to "mean".

[–] Aqarius@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago

Does it? If you're defending, it's presumably from an attack, which you are thereby opposing.

I mean, imagine if Russia and the US announce tomorrow that they formed a military alliance - it's just defensive, don't worry about it. Also, UKIP, AFD, and FN won, and the UK, Germany, and France are joining, too. No, the rest of NATO can't join, but it's just defensive, don't worry about it. Also, Taiwan can't join, but China might. Don't worry about it.

I get that exclusion doesn't necessarily have to mean hostility, but I don't think it's a stretch to see a power block forming that deliberately excludes you and be concerned. Now, I could think of a few ways of dealing with that concern that don't involve, yknow, going to war, but I'm not the guy running things.