There are requirements for joining NATO. From https://www.rferl.org/a/1099020.html https://www.rferl.org/a/1099020.html . > The first chapter -- political and

There are requirements for joining NATO. From https://www.rferl.org/a/1099020.html https://www.rferl.org/a/1099020.html . > The first chapter -- political and economic issues -- requires candidates to have stable democratic systems, pursue the peaceful settlement of territorial and ethnic disputes, have good relations with their neighbors, show commitment to the rule of law and human rights, establish democratic and civilian control of their armed forces, and have a market economy. Does this sound like a set of requirements Russia/Putin is willing to meet? If countries want to join the democratic defense alliance, and they aren't democracies... So what? NATO isn't an alliance of violent dictators. It was USA's insight after WW2 that alliances needed to be held together by more than territorial interest - they need to be held together by values.