Russia and NATO: no longer at loggerheads?
Published: 04 July, 2009, 09:32
TAGS: NATO, Russia, Politics, USA
After a long break, Russia and NATO have decided to resume cooperation, with hopes for the improvement of their relations high ahead of Barack Obama's visit to Moscow.
The “make-up” comes after a period of NATO coldness towards Moscow after last year’s Georgia-South Ossetia conflict. Seemingly, that all is forgotten now as NATO reassesses where its priorities lie.
Russia has long been wary of NATO’s expansion eastward – but concern intensified over Georgia’s membership ambitions when it launched an attack on South Ossetia last August.
“We don't want any illusions of partnership when we're being surrounded by military bases along our borders, and more and more countries are being dragged into NATO. We certainly don't like it,” President Medvedev said.
Georgia may have been on NATO's mind last year – but some say, not now.
“I think that the Obama administration has put the issue of NATO membership for Georgia on ice,” believes Charles Kupchan, a senior fellow for the US Council on Foreign Relations.
With a new US President, new hopes for change have come – and perhaps for “yes we can” diplomacy.
“It is important for NATO allies to engage Russia, and to recognize that they have legitimate interests. In some cases we have common interests, but we also have some core disagreements. We have to send a very clear message to Russia that we want to work with them, but that we can't go back to the old ways of doing business,” said US president Barack Obama.
And although neither side is likely to change their position, they might be able to move on.
“There are no signs that either side is willing to radically revise their position. The only way to overcome these problems is to forget about them and work on those spheres where they can cooperate,” says Nikolay Petrov, political analyst form the Carnegie Moscow center.
Obama has said that one day Georgia could very well become part of NATO – but after the conflict over South Ossetia and a year of serious internal political protests, it doesn’t look like the NATO red carpet will be rolled out anytime soon for the Caucasus country.
“I don’t think the Obama administration has fallen off the idea of one day getting Georgia into NATO, but I don’t think it will be pushing on that door,” Charles Kupchan said.
For now, the US is knocking on another door and even if the US and Russia can’t resolve all their differences over NATO right now, there’s plenty more they can work on – like the impact of the global financial crisis and reducing their arsenals of nuclear weapons.
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Here's one American who was very displeased with Saakashvili's recklessness and would much prefer to see NATO wash its hands of any and all Caucasian blood feuds.
Dialogue is the only way to go, we have to keep talking, the problem is that some people do not realise how far apart we really are. NATO is still going for dominace over Russia, the US is still using them and the EU, in its games for geopolitical dominace. This is where we are today, we are not in the hugs and kisses mode. We are in political combatant mode, and the only way to move forward, is realise where we are, keep and improve our military at the strength that represents that position, and try to find the next stepping stone that will preserve peace and move us closer to real friendship. Either party weak, means armed conflict, any side with a false optimistic estimation of where we are that leads to false trust, also will lead to conflict. Both Russia and the US, need to be professional about this, for the sake of everyone on this planet. Yes there are third parties with alterior motives in Europe, who will always act to prevent good US Russia relations, but we also must realise that, and deal with it in a Russia US forum. No one in Europe has a veto over Russia US relations.
To believe Obama, America, Nato and the American puppets, one has to be a retard. Obama's sweet and smooth speeches are just a variation of the Bush administration. The USA has no intention to be professional or ethical. Mr Putin made it clear to the west, leave Russia alone. But the west does not listen because they want it their way. This so called democracy is just a " devide and conquer" tactic. If they want war, give it to them. It will happen some time.