Nato and Russia – In Search of Dialogue

In 1997, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Russia, determining that they were no longer adversaries after the Cold War, signed a pact on building a “lasting and inclusive peace in the Euro-Atlantic area.” Good relations did not last long, explains Jonathan Marcus for BBC News. Russia expressed concern after NATO accepted members once were within the sphere of control of the Soviet Union under Moscow's Warsaw Pact. Russia’s interventions in Georgia and Ukraine has disrupted relations. NATO and Russia sent reinforcements to border areas and conducted military exercises. “Nato would prefer dialogue and partnership with Moscow. But it cannot accept Russia's use of force in Ukraine,” Marcus notes. “Nato … wants Russia's behaviour to become more transparent and predictable.” He warns concludes that such predictability could prevent misunderstandings, escalation and new crises. – YaleGlobal