“Back to Basics”? NATO and Russia in New Strategic Environment

Abstract

The interpretation of the Ukraine crisis in the Western states has set the ideological scene toward strengthening the international role and military potential of NATO and its individual members against the background of stressing the Russian threat to European security. The logic of the allied relationship makes the United States take into consideration the attitudes of its East European allies and augment the organization’s strength and military presence on its Eastern flank. Though the real return of the North Atlantic alliance “back to basics”; i.e., towards its Cold war role and tasks is not an issue, the aforementioned circumstances add up to the development of international tensions in Europe. The analysis of the role of alliances in international relations should be based not only on consideration as to whether the formation of alliances leads to war, but to take into account its potential to increase tensions. Refs 43.