Introduction to International Politics

Foreign Event Analysis

Locale[]
Russian Federation
Title
Russia to Resume Talks with NATO
Summary
After relations had soured with the event of the Georgian-Russian conflict, Russia has agreed to gradually reengage in negotiations with NATO. Ministers from both parties have agreed to hold informal talks in which each will voice their concerns. While the United States had welcomed the talks, it still considers Russia’s actions in the Georgian-Russian conflict to be “unacceptable.”
Analysis
Although lower-level negotiations will resume, an agreement has not been made to restore the NATO-Russia Council. Russia will use the informal talks to raise the issue of Georgia and Ukraine’s ambitions to join the alliance, to which it has long been opposed. Some member states have voiced their reservations as well, stating that NATO’s diplomatic relations with Russia are too valuable to be sacrificed over the two prospective members. These states, mostly in Western Europe, fear that accepting Georgia and Ukraine as members will upset their energy agreements with Russia, a key supplier to the region. Even so, NATO believes that the two countries will eventually become members once they meet NATO standards.
The United States, who has been critical of Russia’s actions in the Georgian-Russian conflict, believes the negotiations should be used to provide a “framework” in which cooperation should take place among the neighboring states of Russia. It has also insisted that the informal talks do not signal a resumption of “business as usual” with the former Soviet state. Although Russia has agreed to reengage in negotiations with NATO, diplomatic relations with the United States has continued to stagnate.
Perspectivel
Liberal
In-Region URL
http://www.russiatoday.com/news/news/34097
Out-of-Region URL
http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/ukfs_news/hi/newsid_7750000/newsid_7759800/7759833.stm
Submitted
December 3, 2008 at 9:35 pm