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> Putin wouldn't even be a thing, and modern world would be vastly different, if NATO did not exist.

You're right, it would be different. Russia would be all over the Baltics, Finland, parts of Poland and Romania, performing special peacekeeping operations.

> Excuse for what?

Excuse for attacking and occupying neighboring countries. Russia's track record goes back in history much further than 1949.

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> Russia would be all over the Baltics, Finland, parts of Poland and Romania, performing special peacekeeping operations.

Maybe, maybe not. There would probably be no point in peacekeeping operations if there was no transcontinental military industrial complex as a factor for geopolitical destabilization.

> Russia's track record goes back in history much further than 1949

Considering the historic period you are referring to, Russian track record seems much more restrained then other superpowers rising in 20th century. Maybe you should be more specific?

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