Introduction to International Politics

Foreign Event Analysis

Locale[]
Russian Federation
Title
Moscow-NATO Relations
Summary
Russia has announced that it is willing to partake in an informal meeting with NATO to discuss Russia’s political objections to the political and moral stance that NATO took during the recent Georgia conflict. Russia has also announced that the discussing will begin the talks it was having with NATO before the Georgia conflict began. NATO has also agreed to begin the talks that it was having with Russia before the Georgia conflict. Although only an informal version of the original NATA-Russia council that took place before the Georgia conflict will take place.
Analysis
A key concern for some NATO members is the topic of accepting Georgia and the Ukraine into NATO. Such a topic will be discussed during NATO’s informal meetings with Russia. Russia’s ambassador has taken a negative stance in the potential membership of the Ukraine and Georgia into NATO. He claimed that adding the two states would not help the NATO alliance. Consequently, some NATO members feel that adding the two states would worsen NATO’s relationship with Russia. States such as Germany and France are worried that a worsened relationship between NATO and Russia would be a risk to the energy supply that Europe receives from Russia.
The informal talks that will take place will cover many important issues. Clearly, these issues need to be discussed more and the best way to solve problems between NATO and Russia is through dialogue
NATO must be concerned of when or if it will develop “business as usual talks” with Russia. Georgia and the US still believe the actions by Russia during the Georgia conflict were unacceptable. Consequently, the resumed talks between NATO and Russia must be taken very cautiously.
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 8, 2008 at 7:32 pm