A video of Joe Biden speaking about the dangers of NATO expanding in 1997

 has resurfaced and gone viral on social media.

In the video, Joe Biden warns that the Baltic states, namely Estonia, Latvia

 and Lithuania, joining NATO could result in hostility from Russia. He did 

nsist that he did not mean military retaliation, however.

The clip has so far amassed over 1.8 million views since it was posted on

 Twitter on Monday.

The clip was from a speech Joe Biden made at the Atlantic Council of the 

U.S. on June 18, 1997.

"I think the one place where the greatest consternation would be caused in

 the short-term for admission [to NATO], having nothing to do with the merit 

and preparedness of the country to come in, would be to admit Baltic states

 now in terms of NATO-Russian, US-Russian relations," Biden said in his speech.


https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/video-of-joe-biden-warning-of-russian-hostility-if-nato-expands-resurfaces/ar-AAUMVjI

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Video Resurfaces Of Joe Biden Warning Of 'Hostile' Russian Reaction To NATO

"If there was ever anything that was going to tip the balance, were it to be tipped, in terms of a vigorous and hostile reaction in Russia, I don't mean military, it would be that."

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Biden went on to admit that he was an optimist and said he believed the issue would be resolved eventually.

Despite the warning of an ill reaction from Russia, he claimed that he was optimistic that Russia would eventually see the expansion of NATO was actually also in their interest, regarding security.

"I once was told to be in this business you must be an optimist, some would suggest it is too optimistic a view," Biden continued.