- 01 Apr 2014 14:56
#14385407
In the latest edition of Geopolitical Weekly, George Friedman, CEO of private intelligence corporation Stratfor, discusses US strategies of containment by encircling Russia with a military alliance reaching from Estonia in the North to Azerbaijan in the South.
He concludes that Russia is much weaker than the SU and that, from a historical perspective, the US has no choice but to “engage Russia in conflict.” He seems to envision a repeat of the strategy of containment that resulted in the collapse of the SU at the end of in the cold war for the Russian Federation to further isolate and weaken Russia. However, instead of direct deployment of US military main force, he recommends building a military alliance from Estonia to Azerbaijan. The alliance, which would also include Poland, Romania, Moldova, Georgia, etc. would be more suitable for confronting Russia than Nato because, unlike Nato, its members would not have veto power. In addition to training and military hardware supplied to these countries, the US would support the alliance by economic and financial measures taken against Russia.
In the same context, the German weekly Der Spiegel cites a 7-page confidential Nato document according to which Nato is to increase its cooperation with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Moldova. The so-called Nato partnership committee has elaborated a catalogue of concrete measures for promoting cooperation with these countries.
Specifically, these countries are to be encouraged to increase the inter-operability of their armed forces, participate in Nato “Smart Defense Projects” such as surveillance operations.
Moreover, specific aid measures are planned for each of these countries. For example, Nato visibility is to be increased in Moldova. Moldova is also to participate in the rapid action troops of the Nato Response Force. Azerbaijan is to cooperate with Nato for Cyber- and Energy-Security, while the training of troops is to be at the forefront of measures for Armenia.
Nato members have already agreed on these measures. Some, including Nato Secretary General Fogh Rasmussen favor a further Nato East expansion, others, including the German government, don’t envision a further Nato expansion at this point of time.
He concludes that Russia is much weaker than the SU and that, from a historical perspective, the US has no choice but to “engage Russia in conflict.” He seems to envision a repeat of the strategy of containment that resulted in the collapse of the SU at the end of in the cold war for the Russian Federation to further isolate and weaken Russia. However, instead of direct deployment of US military main force, he recommends building a military alliance from Estonia to Azerbaijan. The alliance, which would also include Poland, Romania, Moldova, Georgia, etc. would be more suitable for confronting Russia than Nato because, unlike Nato, its members would not have veto power. In addition to training and military hardware supplied to these countries, the US would support the alliance by economic and financial measures taken against Russia.
In the same context, the German weekly Der Spiegel cites a 7-page confidential Nato document according to which Nato is to increase its cooperation with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Moldova. The so-called Nato partnership committee has elaborated a catalogue of concrete measures for promoting cooperation with these countries.
Specifically, these countries are to be encouraged to increase the inter-operability of their armed forces, participate in Nato “Smart Defense Projects” such as surveillance operations.
Moreover, specific aid measures are planned for each of these countries. For example, Nato visibility is to be increased in Moldova. Moldova is also to participate in the rapid action troops of the Nato Response Force. Azerbaijan is to cooperate with Nato for Cyber- and Energy-Security, while the training of troops is to be at the forefront of measures for Armenia.
Nato members have already agreed on these measures. Some, including Nato Secretary General Fogh Rasmussen favor a further Nato East expansion, others, including the German government, don’t envision a further Nato expansion at this point of time.