But the U.S.-led NATO has never recognized and accepted this plain fact. History has repeatedly proved that the West has no capability for further expansion in its eastward direction. The move has dramatically squeezed their rival's strategic space, but still, this has not quenched the West's thirst for more sphere of influence in the region. In 2008, the West's recognition of Kosovo's independence from Serbia pushed the Iron Curtain, which Winston Churchill described in 1946 as "from Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic," right to the doorstep of Russia. Even Adolf Hitler, the war maniac, suffered a crushing defeat in his attempt to gain control of Ukrainian soil, which eventually led to his fall during World War II.Īfter the end of the war in 1945, an Iron Curtain divided Europe into two separate areas. Insisting on an open-door policy on Ukraine membership, NATO was thinking of taking a step further – an ambition the West never had the capability to realize in the history of its entanglement with the Soviet Union and Russia on the continent. But Washington and its European allies should be prepared for Moscow's counterstrike and its corresponding consequences as a result of their decision to expand their military bloc right to the doorstep of Russia.Ī clear understanding of the ultimate limit of the state strength – or in order words, how far the state or the bloc could expand its domination, and the state's bottom line in handling sovereignty-related affairs – is the first lesson for any politician drafting national strategies.įor NATO, it failed to recognize that its eastward expansion is reaching the extreme limit when it touched Russia's land by admitting Warsaw Pact countries into the bloc.
Whether the ongoing conflicts will result in any change of the map of Europe is hard to say. "If Russia succeeds in taking over Ukraine and keeping bases in Belarus… its forces will extend from the borders of the Baltics and Poland to Slovakia, Hungary and northern Romania, making it significantly harder for NATO to defend its eastern flank," The New York Times warned that NATO is vulnerable in face of Russia's military operations.
With a new frontline of conflict taking place in Europe, one thing is for sure – the existing security architecture of the continent is being shaken up. The daily column clarifies emerging issues and better defines the news agenda, offering a Chinese perspective on the latest global events. Editor's note: CGTN's First Voice provides instant commentary on breaking stories.
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