Brazil's Accession To NATO Would Change Purpose Of North Atlantic Alliance - Moscow

Brazil's possible accession to NATO would mean a paradigm shift for the alliance as the South American country is out of NATO's usual geographic zone, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told Sputnik on Thursday

SAN MARINO (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st March, 2019) Brazil's possible accession to NATO would mean a paradigm shift for the alliance as the South American country is out of NATO's usual geographic zone, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told Sputnik on Thursday.

Earlier this week, speaking at a joint news conference with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, US President Donald Trump said he planned to designate Brazil as a non-NATO ally "or maybe a NATO ally."

"This is the North Atlantic Alliance, its area of operation is completely different .

.. This completely changes the entire philosophy, purpose of the alliance, moving beyond the geographic zone," Grushko said during the visit of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to San Marino.

NATO is currently comprised of 29 member states. According to the North Atlantic Treaty, NATO membership is open to "any other European state in a position to further the principles of this Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area."