[History] Clinton acknowledged that Russia had legitimate concerns over NATO expansion

0
3KB
 

The 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, repeatedly assured his Russian counterpart, Boris Yeltsin, that NATO’s expansion eastward was not targeted against Moscow.

 

Clinton acknowledged in conversations with his circle that Russia’s concerns regarding this were justified, declassified US documents show.

According to the documents published by the National Security Archive at George Washington University, at a meeting with Yeltsin in Washington in 1994, Clinton reiterated that "NATO expansion is not anti-Russian; it’s not intended to be exclusive of Russia, and there is no imminent timetable." In a letter to Yeltsin, dated November 1994, the US president wrote that expanding NATO would be "intended to enhance the security and promote the integrity of Europe as a whole" rather than "being directed at any country."

At the same time, a memo prepared by Nick Burns, who was in charge of Russia and Ukraine issues at the National Security Council at the time, reveals that Clinton understood that "we must also deal with Russia’s real and legitimate security concerns about NATO expansion."

Additionally, the memo, compiled by Burns following his conversation with Clinton, shows the US president’s "sincere desire to do it right and his search for a way to square the circle—expand NATO and preserve a great relationship with the reforming Russia."

Clinton also wondered "whether or not we should try to be more candid with the Russians" about the US vision on expansion and its timetable, the memo reads.

According to Burns, Clinton felt "really pissed off" that Yeltsin had "publicly embarrassed him" with his criticism of US policy at Budapest.

 

Later, Clinton sent a letter to Yeltsin, stating that: "Our common aim should be to achieve full integration between Russia and the West—including strengthened links with NATO—with no new divisions in Europe."

 

 

 

***

 

 

Sources: News Agency - Officials

 

Like
1
Suche
Kategorien
Mehr lesen
Cloak & Dagger
'Nuclear deterrence could provoke World War III,' Explains International group of experts
Nuclear deterrence could provoke World War III. Such conclusions were made on the basis of joint...
Von NavyVetUnited 2024-04-06 10:56:06 0 8KB
Cloak & Dagger
[PART #1 - Unit 504] The IDF shadow on the battle field
Unit 504 is one of the most secret units in the IDF that deals with intel inside the Arab...
Von NavyVetUnited 2024-12-14 10:16:21 0 3KB
Cloak & Dagger
Israeli spies discovered slain Hezbollah leader was juggling four mistresses
Shukr was responsible for the attack on Majdal Shams that killed 12 children and was wanted by...
Von Israel Swords of Iron Ops 2024-12-30 12:08:04 0 4KB
Real Time Facts
Macron’s Middle East ‘grandstanding’ will backfire
European leaders who unilaterally recognize Palestinian statehood "pretend to be advancing...
Von Israel Swords of Iron Ops 2025-04-22 16:42:53 0 3KB
Real Time Facts
Zelensky realizes 'servants not invited to feast'...
  The US has excluded Ukraine from the talks on the settlement of the conflict on...
Von NavyVetUnited 2025-02-19 09:24:03 0 3KB