NATO will never equal the power of the Russian military because the alliance only serves a propagandistic function, former US Assistant Treasury Secretary Paul Craig Roberts told Sputnik.
"NATO will never match Russian military strength. NATO mainly serves as European approval of US foreign policy," Roberts said. "It has a propagandistic function."
Roberts pointed out that it is important to understand that the United States’ hegemonic policy "leaves no basis for agreement."
"What Washington demands is the surrender of Russian sovereignty. [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s responsible, low-key, non-confrontational responses to Washington’s threats and insults will not benefit him or Russia," Roberts said. "The vicious facts are these: Putin and Russia are seen by Washington as obstacles to US hegemony, and the powerful and pervasive US military/security complex requires Russia as an enemy to justify its budget and power. This leaves no possibility for better relations."