What if Russia Joined NATO?

Hypotheticals are fun. Sometimes they're also bonkers. Imagine a world where Russia was accepted into NATO. What would it actually look like? Would we all have came together in peace? Well, things would have been a bit, zanier than you might expect.

[thismuricanboi]

Soviets: Can I join NATO?
NATO: Sure.
Soviets: *Wait, that actually worked?*

[PennTankerGuy]

"What are they defending against?"
Isn't it OBVIOUS Cody?
Aliens, it's aliens.
Reagan and Gorbachev agreed to a mutual defense if Extraterrestrials ever invaded.

[javiz]

NATO: We are NOT an anti-Russia pact
Russia: So may I join?
NATO: F*ck no!!!!

[Prauwlet]

it's quite impressive he managed to put this together because asking "what if russia joined Nato" is sort of like asking "what if the British joined Napoleon"

[Horrormaster]

USSR: "Hey fellas can I join?"
NATO: "No dictators."
USSR: "But you let Portugal join."
NATO: "I said no dictator(s), we're allowed to have 1."

[mostawesomeflyer]

America and Russia “living together” in NATO would make a great sitcom plot

[dapweb]

When Russia joins NATO and America gets kicked out:

“You can’t do this to me…



YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I SACRIFICED?!”

[HollowHusk]

Another factor that kicked off the rivalry between the US and the USSR was that both sides irrationally feared each other, feared the other was out to get them (hindsight neither side was really looking for a fight and was willing to mutually cooperate if given the opportunity)

[neonpalpsy]

I know it'd be immediately demonetised and the comments would descend into a complete hellscape but it'd be really cool to hear your take on what the world would look like now if Petoria had won the 2000 Rhode Island Conflict.

[chadsenate]

Zelensky: OK, you stop the war, we stop joining NATO.
Putin: OK, deal.
*the next day*
Putin: We're joining NATO
Zelensky: WTF?!

[lhw.iAviation]

The only reason Russia and the West would get together is if there’s an extraterrestrial enemy so powerful that they have to put aside their differences

[the_eye]

“No enemies would join a alliance together.” Here is a list of countries that joined a alliance despite being enemies
Greece and Turkey
UK and France
Austria-Hungary and Ottoman Empire
Greek states (pre-Roman) joining together every time a foreigner declares war on one

[WoddCar]

This scenario is just turning off historical AI focuses in HOI4 but in/after the Cold War

[tommykarrick]

I like how most of the scenarios either remove a person from the timeline or change a small decision by a diplomat, sometimes turn the tide of a significant battle
This one is just
“Yuri the psychic used his powers to force the US and the Soviets to get along”

[vkadmiral]

1940s
USSR: May I come to you? NATO: No
1980s
USSR: Can I come to you? NATO: No
1990s
Russia: Can I come to you? NATO: No
2000s
Russia: Can I come to you? NATO: No
2007
Russia: You signed up for this yourself. Hey, China!

[nathaniallusco]

This really just becomes a “what if nato answered the Soviet’s text drunk with ‘yeah sure you can join’ and when they got sober they just didn’t back down from it” like it would have never happened because then it basically just self dissolves because the whole point for existence stopped

[texansniper]

Tom Clancy actually covered this scenario in his book's timeline with 'The Bear and the Dragon'. It involved China, due to several factors, performing espionage and threatening to invade Russia. The US offers Russia's pro-western government emergency entry into NATO and they accept. It wasn't too realistic but it was an entertaining read nonetheless.

[jacquesmcdermott]

The funniest thing about the 1st scenario is that, despite all the chaos, the club wouldn't end since neither USA nor USSR would want to leave and allow the other to dominate it

[handlessuckdick]

I love how after every video, I can say to myself, "Well, things could've been worse." Thanks for giving me a positive outlook in how our timeline is going.

[jamesgeary]

"And don't just say China."
I laughed way too hard at that!