Russian Narratives: NATO as Threat Number One

A special miniseries from the podcast 4 Minutes reveals how the Russian Federation uses words as weapons. We focus on narratives – stories that reshape reality, divide society, and undermine trust in democratic institutions. Step by step, we explore how these narratives arise, why they work, and how to resist them. Each episode is about four minutes long and focuses on a specific story, claim, or method of manipulation. This series is for anyone seeking to understand not just propaganda, but how modern wars are fought – without bullets, using words. 

Transcript

We continue our special miniseries Russian Narratives, where we aim to reveal, step by step, how stories shape our view of the world. Today, we focus on one of the most effective Russian narratives – the portrayal of NATO as the number one threat. This story is not random; it is carefully constructed, repeated, and reinforced both domestically and abroad.

Russian propaganda has long cultivated the idea that NATO is an aggressive alliance constantly moving closer to Russia’s borders and threatening the country's sovereignty. This theme draws on deep historical roots, from the Mongol invasions to Napoleon’s campaigns and the German occupation during World War II. In its modern version, this historical experience is used to legitimize the current actions of the Russian government. The rhetoric is simple but effective: we are merely defending ourselves. We are protecting our borders, our culture, and our traditional values from a decadent, collapsing West.

This narrative gained particular strength after 2007, when President Putin openly criticized NATO expansion at the Munich Security Conference and labeled it a threat to Russia. Since then, Russian propaganda has systematically used the fear of NATO to mobilize the public and justify its actions. This fear is amplified through state-controlled media that depict NATO as an aggressor and a danger to Russian sovereignty.

Russian media and information campaigns spread disinformation about NATO, claiming, for instance, that the alliance plans to attack Russia or that it supports Nazi regimes in neighboring countries. These narratives are disseminated through state outlets and social media platforms to incite fear and hatred toward the West. For example, a new Russian school textbook presents the war in Ukraine as a necessary defense against Western and NATO aggression, thus embedding the narrative in the minds of the younger generation.

Part of this narrative also includes a strong emphasis on the defense of traditional values – family, faith, and patriotism. In official Russian discourse, liberal democracy is portrayed as a decaying system that promotes moral relativism, the destruction of family values, and chaos. Russia casts itself as the final bastion of conservative ideals, a defender of true civilization against the supposed decline of the West.

The aim is not only to mobilize the domestic population but also to appeal to conservative circles abroad. Russian narratives resonate with those dissatisfied with the liberal evolution of Western societies. Whether the issue is migration, minority rights, gender identity, or globalization, Russian propaganda offers a simple alternative: a return to tradition, to "true order," to stable values.

At the same time, Russian messaging seeks to undermine the concept of liberal democracy as a self-correcting, resilient system. It highlights political polarization, protests, economic crises, and cultural conflicts in Western countries as proof that the model is failing. The Russian message is straightforward: look where freedom leads. Look at how the West is collapsing while we protect what is real and enduring.

It is important to realize that this narrative is not just ideological. It is a powerful tool of geopolitical strategy. It helps Russia justify its actions not only to its own citizens but also to parts of the international community. It allows the Kremlin to present itself as a moral authority at a time when its actions on the world stage are drawing criticism and sanctions.

This narrative is so effective because it resonates with deep emotions – fear of chaos, desire for stability, the need to belong to something greater, and a yearning for protection against the unknown. And it is precisely these emotions that Russia’s information strategy systematically targets.

Thank you for listening to another episode of the Russian Narratives miniseries. If you're interested in how these stories are shaped and spread, follow us on social media – you can find us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and X, where we share clips, extended content, and space for your questions and feedback.

Join us again on Friday for the next episode, where we’ll explore how Russia uses the narrative of a decaying West to justify its geopolitics – and how this strategy works in practice. We look forward to having you with us!