The two-day ministerial meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which ended here on Wednesday, decided to set up a NATO-Russia Council to replace the current five-year-old NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council, ushering in a new era in bilateral relations.
After five months of negotiations, the agreement was concluded. Russia and the 19 NATO member states will be treated as "equals" in the new council when discussing and making decision on issues other than core affairs, such as collective defense, military involvement in third countries and enlargement.
NATO Secretary General George Robertson praised the achievement as "the end of Cold War thinking," while Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said it would lift bilateral ties to a higher level. Why did both sides strive to strike the deal?
First, since the end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the strategic balance between the two superpowers has been disrupted. The United States has since used NATO as an effective instrument to expand its sphere of influence and strongly supports NATO's enlargement. As a result, Russia' s strategic space is being pressured even further with more republics of the former Soviet Union being granted NATO membership.
The Russian government has been left with very little room to maneuver. It cannot effectively hinder NATO's expansion, but can exert its influence more efficiently by cooperating with the U.S.- led military alliance.
Second, Russia's sluggish economy has been fighting an uphill battle in recent years. More Western investment and technology could be injected to help its revitalization. Closer ties with NATO would guarantee an influx of foreign capital and modern technology into Russian markets. Moreover, Russia's new role in NATO would help silence hard-core critics at home who criticize the government's pro-Western policies.
Third, with Russia's participation in its affairs, NATO would have no major obstacle on its route to eastward expansion. Most of the aspirant candidate countries have traditional ties with Russia. At the same time, many European countries regard the cooperation with Russia conducive to the comprehensive security of the continent. If Russia can be "invited" into the alliance, it would help create a more secure environment.
Fourth, NATO has always been an instrument of U.S. authorities. The September 11 terrorist attacks provided the U.S. government with an excuse for setting up a military presence in Afghanistan and some neighboring countries. NATO expansion would help the U.S. achieve its strategic goal of extending its control over Europe and Asia. In a sense, NATO enlargement is part of the U.S. strategy to contain Russia and influence control over Eastern Europe and parts of Asia.
The NATO-Russia Council is thus a reflection of political commitment to cooperation between both sides. It will surely enhance cooperation between Russia and NATO. However, analysts here noted with concern the limited role of Russia in the new cooperation mechanism. Without the veto right sought by Russia in NATO's core issues, the nature of the strategic relationship is unchanged. But one thing is sure, the new council will open a new channel for further cooperation between the two sides and a new forum for negotiation and compromise.
( May 17, 2002)
