Russia drops charges against Prigozhin, other participants of Wagner Group rebellion
FOX NewsJul 03, 2023
Stoltenberg: NATO Ready to Defend Against Attack from 'Moscow or Minsk'
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Image copyright: US Secretary of Defense [via Flickr]
The Facts
Following the short-lived rebellion launched by Wagner Group's Yevgeny Prigozhin over the weekend, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday that the military alliance has already increased its preparedness for possible attacks in its eastern flank, stressing that Russia's military strength shouldn't be underestimated.
Speaking after a dinner with seven national leaders in The Hague, he declared that NATO would decide whether to further beef up its readiness on July 11-12, when the bloc's leaders are scheduled to gather in Vilnius, Lithuania.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The presence of Wagner troops in Belarus creates instability in Eastern Europe and is a cause of concern. NATO is right to shore up defenses while telling Russia and Belarus that it's prepared for any acts of aggression is also the correct way to go.
Establishment-critical narrative
If the West really understood that NATO enlargement is, in fact, at the center of the Russia-Ukraine war — which is why it's false to say this war was unprovoked — it would be more hesitant before further militarizing NATO's eastern flanks. This will force Russia to respond.
