Stern Relations between NATO and Russia

After an appearance of calm surrounding the presidential election in Ukraine, tension has returned to the area, largely due to threats to Ukrainian stability made by President Barack Obama’s Russian counterpart.

Washington is opting to exert pressure through NATO, which is responsible for generating a new power equilibrium following Moscow’s controversial annexation of Crimea.

Despite the withdrawal of a group of Russian troops from the border with Ukraine, the West has shown little inclination toward reducing tensions with Vladimir Putin, whose popularity rises when disagreement with the North Americans and Europeans increases. Obama, seen internally in the U.S. as being weak on issues like North Korea, Iran and Islamic terrorism, is uncompromising in projecting a more aggressive stance on Russia’s so-called expansionist intentions. Nothing stimulates cohesion in the U.S. more than combatting Moscow under the premise of defending human rights in Central and Eastern Europe.

Accordingly, the president just completed a visit to Poland, which is a key actor in counterbalancing Russia’s influence — though more in the symbolic sense than a practical sense. The evidence is found by observing Obama’s speech; he stood with the Polish president in front of four F-16 fighter jets. The U.S. president relived the role of Poland at the end of the communist era — significantly, on June 4, the 25th anniversary of the first multiparty elections following decades of socialism. While Putin speaks of the fall of the Soviet Union as the worst tragedy in the history of the 20th century, the U.S. and its Central European allies are not reluctant to celebrate the downfall. However, Poland and its neighbors did not get what they had anxiously hoped for from Obama — the installation of NATO military bases on Polish territory, which could have meant a real counterweight to Russian power. Washington’s negative response to that request demonstrates its intention to avoid reaching its limits in terms of its relations with Moscow, which continues to view the transatlantic alliance as an enemy that has no just reason for being hostile.

Meanwhile, the NATO defense ministers are contemplating the possibilities of increasing and improving the capacities of the military alliance, which will surely inspire a strong response from Putin, who will see it as a provocation. The upcoming months are fundamental to European stability. Nothing could be worse for a continent that has been discredited regionally and globally than a confrontation with Russia.