NATO’s Strategic Expansion in Eastern Europe: Deterrence, Risk, and the Remaking of European Security
NATO’s enlargement into Central and Eastern Europe has fundamentally redefined the continent’s security landscape, post-Cold War. While offering protection to former Soviet-dominated states, it heightened tensions with Russia, amplifying perceptions of encirclement. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine underscores NATO’s pivotal role and the necessity for credible deterrence and commitment among member states.