NATO's eastward march threatens Asian stability

NATO's expansion into Asia poses a monumental danger that threatens not only regional stability but also the core values of peace and coexistence that many Asian countries uphold.

- NILANTHA ILANGAMUWA

The recent change in NATO leadership, with Mark Rutte taking the helm, may suggest a potential for new strategies, but the underlying policies and militaristic attitudes of the alliance remain unchanged. The illusion of progress is merely that-an illusion-while NATO's intentions to maintain a prolonged battlefield in Ukraine serve as a reflection of its true objectives. As observed, the US weapons sales surged dramatically in 2023, reaching a record total of $238 billion as the demand for arms skyrocketed due to the ongoing conflict. Profiting from the sale of weapons on one hand and exploiting the suffering of unarmed civilians across Europe and West Asia is becoming increasingly reprehensible. This reflects a strategic mindset where war is not an unfortunate circumstance but an industry.

This is, however, not a new phenomenon. This is how we "civilisations" behave. The his tory of military alliances has consistently illustrated a paradoxical truth: nations often proclaim peace while simulta-neously preparing for war and engaging in it.