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They saw it that way 10, 20 years ago. The world has changed a bit so I am 1) doing the Russki's a favour (they can then no longer claim that we are a threat but they themselves will be seen as a mortal threat by anyone in the East) 2) doing ourselves a favour: our interests aren't in dying for some far-away hovels but to protect our own economy.
With the East as a buffer, neither is a threat to the other and we can do our own thing.
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