Introduction to International Politics
Foreign Event Analysis
| Locale | ![[]](http://www.kvasaheim.com/flags/flag15-ru.png "Flag of Russian Federation") | Russian Federation |
|---|---|---|
| Title |
NATO, Russia Talking Again
| |
| Summary |
NATO and Russia have picked up negotiations with one another after the Council established between the two was suspended following Russia’s invasion of Georgia over the summer. Relations between the NATO nations and Russia remain unstable, particularly given NATO’s original raison d’etre: a check against aggression from Moscow.
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| Analysis |
That NATO allowed Russia to invade Georgia, a state looking to gain entrance to NATO’s defense policy, without military retaliation, is a good thing for worldwide stability. Continued negotiations between NATO and Russia seem to be the preferred method of conflict resolution between these former rivals, as neither wishes armed conflict with the other.
By dealing with an international organization such as Russia in a civil manner, they do not appear to be the bullying, realist-oriented power the world saw in August, but a rational actor committed to stability and growth across Europe.
NATO, meanwhile, continues to condemn the “excessive” use of Russian force in the South Ossetian War, as well as the Russian recognition of two breakaway Georgian provinces. These are just words, however, and the fact that the NATO-Russia council has resumed without a harder retaliation shows that NATO prefers to deal with Russia not as an enemy or threat to peace, but as a potential partner.
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| Perspective |  | Liberal |
| In-Region URL | ||
| Out-of-Region URL | ||
| Submitted | December 5, 2008 at 01:59 am | |
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