Gorbachev said the US was “hit in the head by arrogance” – RBK

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the US was “hit in the head by arrogance”, which led to the idea of ​​NATO expansion, said “RIA News” former USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev.

When asked whether it was possible to build relations with the United States in a different way without prejudice to Russia, he recalled that the collapse of the country led to “the collapse of the economy, chaos.” “How can one count on equal relations with the United States and the West in such a situation?” – he noted.

No less important was the fact that in the West, especially in the United States, there were “triumphant moods,” Gorbachev continued.

“They were struck in the head by arrogance, self-confidence. They declared victory in the Cold War. But together we pulled the world out of confrontation, out of the nuclear race. No, the “winners” decided to build a new empire. This is where the idea of ​​NATO enlargement came from, ”he said.