The share of Russians with negative attitude towards NATO, has reached its highest level since 2008, showed a study of Gallup. According to the survey, 67 percent of Russian citizens consider NATO as a threat. For comparison, in 2012 this figure was 38%.
Only 3 percent of the polled Russians said that they considered NATO as an ally, and 20 percent are neutral Alliance. The remaining respondents answered that I have no opinion on this matter.
According to the experts of Gallup, hostile attitude towards NATO can also be observed in countries in the “Russian sphere of influence.” Thus, NATO is considered a threat 54% of citizens of Belarus (19 per cent greater than it was four years earlier) and more than a third of Ukrainians.
The fact that the negative attitude to NATO is growing in Ukraine, was explained by the fact that the population of this country is tired of the ongoing conflict in the South-East, and from economic decline and rising crime. “The end of combat operations is not visible, and the Ukrainians are losing confidence that NATO can help solve their problems,” the report said.
“Given the Russian military activity in the region and the fact that many European countries are waiting for support from the United States and NATO, the United States’ commitment to the preservation Alliance is now critically important. If the US leave NATO, Russia will benefit because the Alliance did not have the resources to counter the military and political expansion of the Russian Federation. It will also damage the US relations with European allies”, – concluded the experts.
Note that the American President Donald trump during election campaign repeatedly criticized U.S. allies in NATO, accusing them of failure to fulfill financial obligations. After winning the election, trump announced that NATO is a “legacy organization”.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, meanwhile, said that the organization is closely following news about the strengthening of Russian influence in the countries of the Balkan region and its interference in political processes of the countries of Eastern Europe. According to the Secretary General, the best way to protect yourself from the intervention “to ensure that democratic institutions in all Balkan countries is strong, there is a struggle against corruption, carrying out reforms”.