NATO plans to develop new strategy for Russia - Politico
Illustrative photo (Getty Images)
The North Atlantic Alliance has begun discussing a new strategy toward Russia. NATO defense ministers will discuss this issue for the first time next week, Politico reports.
The relations between Russia and NATO have deteriorated significantly against the backdrop of Moscow's aggression against Georgia and Ukraine. Despite this, the Alliance continues to adhere to the founding act on mutual relations, cooperation, and security with Russia, which was signed in 1997. In it, NATO and Russia recognize a common goal of building a stable, peaceful, and undivided Europe.
At the same time, the NATO-Russia Council has not been held since 2022. This body was created after the Cold War for security partnerships and joint projects.
“NATO countries are now in the process of trying to "map out different elements of [the Russia] strategy and advance the debates inside the alliance that takes us to subjects like the future of the NATO-Russia Founding Act,” the agency quotes a statement by a senior US government official.
He clarified that now it is time to develop a new strategy that will take into account the specific positions of the allies. There is no draft of the strategy yet.
According to the official, the founding act and the NATO-Russia Council “were created for a different era” in NATO-Russia relations.
The agency clarifies that discussions on the new strategy have been underway for several months. But next week, this topic will be discussed for the first time at the level of NATO defense ministers. According to the agreements, such a strategy should be developed by the next NATO summit, which will be held in The Hague in June 2025.
At the same time, according to an unnamed NATO diplomat, some members of the Alliance fear that a very aggressive new strategy could send a signal that would destabilize Russia. There is also the question of the position of Hungary and Slovakia.
Russia is threat to NATO
After the Russian invaders began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, NATO countries officially identified Russia as “the most significant and direct security threat.”
This phrase was contained in the new strategy of the North Atlantic Alliance.
