Sixty-seven
percent of Russians view NATO as a threat, a new survey from Gallup
shows. It’s the highest number recorded since 2008.
In
contrast, back in 2012, only 38 percent of Russians perceived the
Western military bloc as a threat.
Fifty-four
percent of Belarusians also view NATO, the security alliance of 28
countries from North America and Europe, as a threat, a 19-point jump
from four years ago, the latest Gallup poll has found.
Along
with the Russians and Belarusians, “more people in Ukraine (35
percent), Kazakhstan (31 percent), Kyrgyzstan (30 percent), Moldova
(27 percent), Armenia (20 percent) and Tajikistan (34 percent) view
NATO as a threat rather than a protection,” the international
survey says.
The
number of Ukrainians who view NATO as a threat has increased in
recent years, according to Gallup. In 2014, when the military
conflict broke out in eastern Ukraine, Ukrainians were “more
likely” to see NATO as a protection (36 percent) than a threat (20
percent), researchers says.
Last
year, however, the percentage viewing it as a threat shot back up to
35 percent, as the Ukrainian population has grown tired of the
ongoing conflict. “Without a clear end in sight to the conflict,
Ukrainians may be losing confidence in NATO's ability to help them in
this crisis,” the latest survey says.
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