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NATO doesn't expand eastwards any more than my bookclub. Stop attributing agency where there is none. Free and independent countries, formerly under Soviet occupation, freely and voluntarily are signing up for NATO.

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"Signing up for NATO" aka blackmailing their way into NATO in Poland's case. They really wanted into NATO. There wasn't an eastward expansion from NATO, the east came to NATO.

It doesn't require much study of that part of Europe's history to understand and fully agree that joining NATO is a precondition for any kind of long term national security for these countries. When things get existential, you will cut any corner you can.

Yeah, if I was polish I would be pro-(whatever would save me from Russia).

I dont really understand the confusion. There is agency in accepting members or not. Do you let anyone in your bookclub? How about your house?

Even NATO's open door policy is a choice. Doubly so when NATO provides weapons, funds, and training to non-NATO States.

The rules for NATO membership didn't change, they were what they always were. 'Expansion' implies that is a goal. It simply isn't. The goal of the book club isn't to become large either, it is simply to share an interest in books.

Better question is why every single former occupied country wants to sign up. It is not a complicated answer.

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