One can argue that Russia can join NATO, but that would be an irrational move. The purpose of NATO was to counter the Soviet Union. While most European governments would support Russian membership, the current leadership of the country scares them. While the post-Cold War tensions have helped keep the Western world safe, they still do not get along very well. In fact, cooperation among European governments is almost impossible without Mikhail Gorbachev’s strong leadership.
In order for Russia to join NATO, it would have to abide by the rules of the alliance and join the G8 forum, an organization of governments committed to reducing trade barriers and tariffs. In addition, it joined the World Trade Organization in 2012, which is an organization of governments committed to reducing tariffs. It has also signed the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a Russian version of NATO, in 1992. Although there have been concerns about the rapprochement, some believe that it will work in the long run.
While the US was the original member of NATO, some eastern European countries have also joined since then. While Russia has never been a member of NATO, it has joined the World Trade Organization and the G8 in the past. The G8 is a group of nations committed to reducing trade barriers and tariffs. The Russian version of NATO is the Collective Security Treaty Organization, which was signed on 15 May 1992. As a result, the G8 countries are allies of the US, and they endorse the US’s coercive policies.
But the question is whether this would be possible. It is unlikely that Russia would join NATO on its own. Even if Russia did join the alliance, it would have to agree to abide by the rules of NATO. And in order for an agreement between adversaries to be made, both sides will need to give something in return. In this case, Russia would have to commit not to invade Ukraine, resolve the Donbas and Crimea conflicts, and provide military protection for Europe against other foreign powers.
The answer to this question is not necessarily obvious. First, the Russian government has repeatedly expressed a desire to align itself with the West, and the NATO expansion in 2004 was the fastest in its history. However, the Russian government’s attitude was not a direct reflection of its intention to join the alliance. This policy was merely an example of an unilateral agreement between the two sides. If the Soviet Union wanted to expand its influence, Russia would not be a good candidate.
There are two main criteria that would allow Russia to become a member of NATO. In addition to being a member of the Atlantic community, it should share important security concerns with the other members of NATO. Likewise, Russia would have to pledge not to invade Ukraine or resolve the disputes in Donbas and Crimea. In addition to this, it must also pledge to protect its own citizens against foreign aggression. While it is unlikely that this is a mutually beneficial agreement, it is not impossible.
Nevertheless, there are some obstacles to this possibility. While Russia has stated its desire to align with the West, it will be necessary to abide by the rules of NATO. In other words, Russia would have to agree to join NATO, and be a member of NATO. But how can Russia do that? It will have to sign up with the other 27 members of the alliance. It is not a problem for the West to accept Russian membership in the alliance.
To become a member of NATO, Russia will have to agree to follow all of its rules. This is a requirement in any agreement between an adversary and a potential member state. If both sides agree to this, then they will ratify the agreement and continue to cooperate. Can Russia Join NATO? Should it Join? Can it join the alliance? This question remains controversial, and the answer is complex. And it should be a key factor in the debate.
The positive case for Russian membership in NATO is straightforward. Despite the fact that the EU does not want Russia to join, Russia would have to agree to accept NATO rules. While NATO was created as a military alliance, it has evolved into a vassal state of the US. By joining NATO, it endorses US coercive policies. As long as the US continues to be a member, Russia will have no interest in joining the organization.