NATO’s Eastern Expansion: Geopolitical Ambitions, Economic Maneuvers, and the Russia-Iran-China Counter-Axis NATO’s eastward expansion since 1990, driven by the US, EU, and UK, has reshaped Eastern Europe and the Black Sea region, blending geopolitical containment of Russia with economic control. The US sought global hegemony, securing allies and energy routes; the EU aimed for market access and stability; the UK reinforced transatlantic ties while profiting from defense and finance. Energy markets—gas, oil, and renewables—are central, with NATO’s diversification efforts weakening Russia’s economic leverage. Propaganda framing NATO as a democratic bulwark against Russian aggression justified expansion, though critics see imperialist motives. Russia’s response, a deepening Russia-Iran-China axis, counters Western dominance through trade pivots and military ties. While defensive rationales gained traction post-2014, economic and strategic goals dominate. This note explores motives, en...