But an archway only works when both sides press against each other, so what good is a military alliance when it doesn’t have a foe? In the two decades since NATO lost its longtime adversary, it has grown to include many former Soviet states. A “big bang” in the early 2000s brought in all three Baltic countries, among others from the cadre of USSR retirees. Leaders of those nations now say that still more former comrades might have the economic and defense maturity to be welcomed into the fold. Top among this list are Georgia and Moldova, and perhaps Ukraine, where NATO officials insist Russia continues an active campaign of destabilization.
The crisis in Crimea and eastern Ukraine began last fall, following reports the government dared to consider pro-Western accords. Some on the ground there, including vocal opponents of Russia’s maneuvers, say the NATO alliance has done nothing to quell the ongoing unrest that spreads throughout the region. If anything, it is an equal contributor.
“NATO hasn’t played any constructive role so far. It’s only been creating additional problems for Russia and Ukraine,” says Valeriy Konovalyuk, an established Ukrainian economist and politician running for president of the country’s reformed government. “Russia is afraid that Ukraine will … be a part of NATO’s orbit.”