Russia’s Foreign Minister stated on the 23^rd January that the easterly expansion of NATO is reminiscent of the Cold War, and that such movement has no purpose other than to antagonise.

Speaking at a press call, Sergei Lavrov highlighted how NATO’s growth towards the Russian border was an unjustified move in security terms, and simultaneously issued a warning on the damage that could impact on Russia’s relations with the countries that previously formed part of the Soviet Union, if they became a part of the organisation.

Ukraine Applied for NATO Membership

Since the Cold War ended, a number of ex-Soviet states have joined NATO. In recent days, Ukraine expressed interest in doing the same – a decision that has displeased Russia.

"We consider that the NATO policy of open doors (to new members) is a policy inherited from the Cold War," Lavrov asserted, during the course of a hard-line speech.

"We are convinced that the geographical enlargement of NATO was not seriously motivated by security ... It will not lead to a single security space, on the contrary it will lead to fragmentation and new dividing lines."

Lavrov: NATO Expansion Antagonistic

Although NATO’s enlargement has been a source of Russian contention for many years now, the tone of Lavrov’s speech has been viewed as especially uncompromising.

"We see how the new members are being absorbed (into NATO) in the military sense. There is intensive military patrolling, opening of airfields and military bases”, he said.

"We hear that NATO enlargement is not directed against Russia ... Bismarck said that in politics, especially in military affairs, you have to judge not intentions but potential. And the potential, the military pending, is increasing."

"Apart from the military aspect, the theme of enlarging NATO ... antagonises relations between countries."

Ukrainian/ Russian Relations Depend on Ukraine’s NATO Position

Referring to Ukraine’s desire to belong to NATO, Lavrov said this was a “...very serious topic”, adding ”...future cooperation between Russia and Ukraine depends to a large extent on how it develops."

Finally, he described how certain new members of NATO were attempting to “rewrite history”, and make “heroes (out) of the Nazis”.

This seems to have been an allusion to the Baltic States which, each year, hold a Second World War veterans parade featuring those who, during the conflict, were allied to Germany.

Source – Armed Forces International’s East European Correspondent

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