What’s NATO expansion, why it angers Putin & return of tensions in Europe

#RussiaUkraine #NATO #Putin
In episode 948 of CutTheClutter, Shekhar Gupta looks at the conception of Europe, its role in World Wars and what is the NATO expansion that Putin is furious about. We also look at prior Soviet Republics, Warsaw Pact nations, the Baltics and security treaties between America and other nations, especially those that interest India.

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[HarmanHundal]

You should do a CTC on how Putin has prepared his country and economy for this War and resulting sanctions many years in advance, He has done currency swaps with many countries including India and now that the Rouble is down, India’s rouble holdings have gone down in value while Putin’s rouble has gained. He has similarly reduced his external debt to a great extent. Putin has waited for a time when oil prices have gone up to do this.

[ankitbisht]

Moral of the story- Never ever give up your nukes…no matter what

[itsjustme]

The one who wants war, never goes to war
The one who doesn't want war, goes to war
😓

[gauravagarwal]

I have lived in Ukraine for 10 years so may be able to add something here. US can be the only reason why anything goes wrong in the Universe. You mention that Russia was OK with CIS nations becoming part of NATO and EU but remember we were talking Boris Y and Mikhael G both US sponsored sttoges infact instrumental in the breakup of USSR. Most new additions to NATO happened in early 2000 when Russia was a very weak state it could have done nothing but ignore. EU expanded big time in the era making the best use of the opportunity to create buffer states and be close to land borders in case of a war. Western Union will gladly sacrifice Poland but will not sacrifice Germany or France. Today the tables have turned. Russia now has a friend in China and has a strong pair of legs. With crude at 100$ it has little to worry. Ukraine has land borders with Russia and that changes everything. Russia will no more allow any other country with land borders to become part of EU and NATO.

Before we call Putin a dictator, remember he has done very little to advance russian borders, he could have annexed many smaller replublics but stayed out of them. Ukraine has been playing the fiddle for as long as it has existed. US has nothing to gain with Ukraine, infact thats the reason why Ukraine is still not part of NATO. For land access to Russia US has Latvia et al. US just wants to destabilise the region, keep it on a boil, sell arms.

[SimFoxSim]

With all due respect and admiration you had missed one very crucial date/event Mar 24, 1999 – Jun 10, 1999 - NATO war against Yugoslavia. USA and NATO didn't even bother with UN, they just decided to intervene on their own. That was a watershed moment. Russia saw that NATO can be military tool used for an offensive military operations outside of the framework of international law. That was it. There could not be any trust in "peaceful expansion". That time it was Yugoslavia next time will it e Russia? Or Syria? Or Libya ... But that war had radically changed perception of NATO or trust in it's being purely defensive alliance not only in Russia but also in China. During aerial bombardment of Capital of Yugoslavia Belgrade Chinese embassy there was bombed. Americans claimed that this was an accident... But Chinese found it strange that this "accident" had destroyed only part of embassy that was responsible for intelligence operations.
Of course all those people whom you quote wouldn't mentioned any of these. Despite the fact that it is a very recent and very well documented history. Would they do mention/remember/remind these facts that story of peaceful friendly innocent NATO would be much harder chant along.

[nagesh]

I think you missed a major point. The unilateral NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. That probably changed Putin forever, and brought back the fears of a hegemonic US at Russia's doorsteps.

[ashishranjan]

Please don't fold your hand sir
I feel bad
A very hard working, unbaised journalist you are sir
You people are hope of Indian journalism
❤️❤️❤️

[SubaruImprezaa]

How Russia supported India in UN

•1957 used veto power on Kashmir.
•1961 liberation of Goa.
•1962 supported for Kashmir.
•1971 supported on Kashmir.
•2019 supported for article 370.

Today India abstained and supported Russia

[bulthaosen]

Well unfortunately for Europe this time there won't be a third world war. It will just be a European war.

India fought 2 of their "world wars". Not this time. Not anymore. They are on their own.

[SubaruImprezaa]

Media: Why India abstained from voting on Ukraine resolution at UNSC?

India already appealed to Russia to resolve via dialogue.

India abstained, not absent

India didn't vote against Ukraine despite knowing that Ukraine voted against India at UNSC

Ukraine ditched by USA & NATO

[MyKarur]

Brilliant Shekhar. Two Europeans meet and soon find three reasons to disagree, based on past events. Most Europeans are born after the war and shouldn't care about the past but this is an impossibility. Sad

[amanshukla]

8:37
SG, just the other day, I read an archived NYT article from 2nd Oct 1993, headlined "Yeltsin Opposes Expansion Of NATO in Eastern Europe", pertaining to that same letter you're talking about.
I quote the article, which says that Yeltsin "has sent a letter to President Clinton opposing any expansion of NATO to include East European nations like Poland or the Czech Republic"
"the letter went on to remind Western leaders that Russia had also expressed an interest in joining the Atlantic alliance and to make clear that President Yeltsin would view the admission of Poland or the Czech Republic, without simultaneous NATO membership for Russia, as unacceptable."
"the Russian view of an enlarged alliance is one that includes Russia. Yeltsin is saying that expansion of NATO without expansion to include Russia will undermine European security."
And these are not Putin's words. These are the words of the Western-friendly Boris Yeltsin

[dogapart]

Expansion of NATO specially closer to the Russian border was big mistake and US and EU ignoring Russian was underestimated. Now Russia gave NATO a big surprise with no any viable good option.

[xtinxn]

Shekhar ji, requesting you to do a cut the clutter episode on the Kosovo war and regime changes orchestrated during the cold war. Also, commenting from Romania and waiting for a Print correspondent to come here soon!

[gabesimmonds]

Finally a channel with facts and no propaganda. Pleasure to listen.

[bigB]

Even though as SG says there were no written assurances stating there wouldn't be nato's eastward expansion, there appear to ha been such negotiations which was recently published in the form of "minutes from those negotiations" in western media. Russia did not object to nato expansion in the past because it couldn't and also baltic states don't have much in common with russia. But Ukraine is an entirely different story. To give an analogy, Baltic states are like Burma to India but Ukraine culturally, religiously, and historically is like Nepal to India - looks like all there things have been overlooked by SG

[b.k]

Thank you SG, I am watching all this Western media's videos of why this war happened and history of this relations, disappointingly they were just building narratives against Russia not showing any reasons or even Russian side. You are the first to make all this clear, really appreciate for that.

[kolviczd]

Wherever USA goes, there's always conflicts, war and sufferings, except within their own country. It cannot be all coincidence

[vinraghav]

This vid describes 2% about Putin's anger on NATO, and 98% on useless NATO and European history that has no connection with it.

[ysjrty]

The print should open a online journalism course that’s paid. I would pay for that course.