“Expansion of NATO – an Extremely Dangerous Process”

 The expansion of NATO during the last decade of the 20th century and the first decade of the 21st century reflects a neo-colonial, imperial policy, primarily of the United States. Its objective is clearly to establish full control over energy resources, strategic minerals, and water resources, as well as over the main oil and gas transportation routes. 
    Regionally, this strategy unfolds in three stages. The first stage was to place Poland, the Baltic states, the Czech and Slovak Republics, Hungary, and the Balkans under NATO control. With some exceptions, this stage has almost been completed. The second stage aims to bring the Black Sea and Caspian Sea regions, as well as the Caucasus, under NATO control. This stage, as we understand from the agenda of the NATO Bucharest Summit, is already under way. The third stage will focus on Russia, particularly Siberia – considered the richest reservoir of strategic resources on the planet – followed by Central Asia and China.
    The so-called transition and privatisation processes in the former socialist countries have served as a cover for the mere surrender of economic and natural resources to Western multinational corporations. The Washington model of “democratisation” appears to function as a mechanism for placing the natural and national resources of former socialist countries under full control, while expanding NATO as the guarantor of the irreversibility of the transfer of national wealth to Western multinational corporations.
    NATO expansion proceeds through several stages: vassal democracy, Partnership for Peace, NATO membership, and the installation of NATO bases. American and NATO bases have been mushrooming over the past fifteen years. There are more such bases in Europe today than at any time during the Cold War. The system of American and NATO bases stretches for several thousand kilometres of frontline, from the North Sea via the Baltic Sea to Anatolia, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Middle East.
    Europe – particularly Eastern and South-Eastern Europe – has been subjected to militarisation driven by the will and strategic interests of the United States and the wealthiest Western countries. In many instances, democratic procedures and institutions have merely served as rubber-stamping mechanisms. National elites bear full responsibility for the long-term consequences of this development. What are the predictable consequences?
    1  Rising global tensions, deterioration of US-Russia relations, and the accumulation of confrontation and conflict potential. Since the aggression against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) nine years ago, NATO has transformed itself into an offensive – indeed aggressive – alliance, expanding its area of action beyond the territories of its member states as defined by the 1949 Founding Act. Developments in Afghanistan and Iraq confirm this trend. NATO membership today implies acceptance of participation in aggressive wars whenever the United States decides to initiate them, or at least support for such wars, even when they contradict the national interests of a particular country. In the event of war, such a member state becomes a legitimate military target even if it does not take an active combat role. The mere presence of NATO bases on a country’s territory provokes retaliation.
    2  An arms race and rising military expenditures at both global and national levels. The spiral of the arms race is closely linked to a lack of trust, eventually leading to the danger of uncontrollable conflicts. At the national level, for new NATO members and Partnership for Peace countries alike, the standardisation of military equipment to NATO standards results in unnecessary spending and ever-increasing foreign debt, negatively affecting citizens’ living standards and social well-being. These obligations generate growing orders and profits for the US military–financial sector.
    3  The militarisation of Europe as an inevitable consequence of NATO expansion. This runs counter to the policies of détente and to the principles of the OSCE and the Paris Charter. Political decision-making has, in many respects, become militarised, bypassing parliaments and democratic procedures. Military commitments are undertaken without parliamentary ratification. As a result, militarisation simultaneously jeopardises development, democratisation, and the European security architecture.
    4  Restrictions and violations of fundamental freedoms and human rights, as well as the erosion of national independence and sovereignty.
    5  Eastward NATO expansion driven by specific US interests, namely a) securing military manpower from “new Europe” for wars around the globe, compensating for the reluctance of “old Europe” to deploy its own troops; b) expanding markets for the US military industry; c) controlling – or straining – Europe-Russia cooperation.
    Let me stress that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) was the first victim of NATO’s aggressive eastward expansion. Since then, NATO has continued its aggression against Serbia, shifting from military force to political, financial, economic, subversive, and propagandistic means to achieve the same objectives: the secession of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija (KiM) from Serbia, the separation of Montenegro from Serbia, the weakening of Serbia, and the establishment of total control over the Balkans.
    The unilateral proclamation of the secession of KiM on 17 February this year bears the USA/NATO seal. This confirms that the primary objective of NATO aggression was the separation of KiM from Serbia and the creation of the first-ever “NATO-stan.” This represents a tragic mistake, ushering in the globalisation of military interventionism without UN Security Council approval and setting dangerous precedents for secessionist movements and terrorism elsewhere in Europe and the world. This is reminiscent of the West’s behaviour in Munich in September 1938. The Bondsteel base in Kosovo and Metohija – the largest US base in Europe – clearly extends beyond Serbia and the Balkans, aiming much further eastward.
    The unilateral and illegal secession of KiM has seriously destabilised Serbia and the Balkans. It sets an extremely dangerous precedent not only for the region but also for Europe and the world. Serbia will never accept or recognise this illegal unilateral act. Imposed solutions cannot be lasting solutions.
    The expansion of NATO and US bases is an extremely dangerous process, contrary to the principle of equal security for all countries, whether members of military alliances or not. NATO expansion reveals plans to use military force to control the territories, natural resources, trade, and energy routes of other sovereign states. Efforts to redistribute energy and other natural resources at the beginning of the 21st century are reminiscent of Nazi Germany’s imperial strategy for the redistribution of colonies. There is no need to recall the price paid or the fate of that strategy.
    Therefore, it is the duty of all peace-loving peoples and forces to stand up against further expansion of US and NATO bases before it is too late. Europe must not allow a repetition of the darkest periods of its history.•