NATO turns 75. What's the history of USSR and Russia relations with the alliance?

The NATO military-political bloc was created in 1949 in the United States with the aim of protecting Europe from the possible threat of Soviet expansion. Five years later, the USSR itself applied to join the alliance, but was rejected. In 2000, Vladimir Putin, as he said, suggested that Bill Clinton consider the issue of Russia joining NATO.

Dean Acheson, United States Secretary of State, puts his name to the North Atlantic Treaty at the ceremony in the auditorium of the State Department in Washington D.C, at which the Foreign Ministers of 12 nations signed the pact. Watching him are President Harry S Truman (second from left), and Vice-President Alben Barkley (left). In the background can be seen Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin. (Photo by PA Images via Getty Images) Credit: PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images

Why did the Soviet Union apply to join the bloc? Could Clinton's "restrained reaction" to Putin's proposal influence his decision to oppose Russia to the West? How have relations between Russia and NATO changed over the decades and at what point did interaction become impossible?

We talked about this with Dr Alexey Muraviev from the Department of National Security and Strategic Studies at Curtin University in Perth.

Dr. Alexey Muraviev, Associate Professor of National Security and Strategic Studies at Curtin University, Perth Credit: Submitted by Dr.Muraviev