Phase IFoundation
Background
Overview
Crucial for understanding the historical context and underlying causes of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, post-Cold War security architecture, and great power rivalry.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a military alliance formed in 1949 for collective defense. Its post-Cold War eastward expansion, incorporating former Warsaw Pact countries and Baltic states, has been a significant geopolitical issue, viewed by Russia as an encroachment on its sphere of influence and a direct security threat.