February 18, 2001

ABM, NMD - Alphabet Soup of Defense


ABM, NMD - Alphabet Soup of Defense

Russia is an active proliferator. They are part of the problem. They are selling and assisting countries like Iran and North Korea and India and other countries with these technologies which are threatening other people, including the United States and Western Europe and countries in the Middle East; U.S. Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfield, Reuters, Feb. 14, 2001. CIA chief George Tenet echoed Rumsfield's remark and added that Russia was considered a global threat by the U.S.

Not surprisingly, this remark was not well received in Moscow which claims that Russia has done its part in honoring all existing arms treaties. To add salt to the wound, Moscow is disappointed that the Bush administration has, thus far, made no overtures towards talks between the two nations regarding defense issues. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell is scheduled to meet, in Cairo Egypt, with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov on February 24, 2001. This will be the first official meeting between the two nations on the arms issues. Everyone hopes for a positive discussion but the White House has made it clear that it has no intention of discussing compromise regarding the NMD. In response, Moscow feels that its objections and reason for them are being ignored. Interfax quoted Ivashov as saying, Even America's allies do not believe in the fairy tales about the threats from other states which Rumsfeld talks about.

There are those among the NATO allies who understand Russia's objections to the NMD. However, these nations are not ready to strain relationships within the organization by voicing open opposition of their own and/or officially defending Moscow's position. Ivashov told ITAR-TASS that, If the system is set up, we will regard it as the advance echelon for intercepting Russian strategic missiles. Americans will be, as it were, shielding themselves from Russian rockets with Europe in this multi-layer defense . . . Russia reserves the right to adopt corresponding conclusions and steps to guard its own security.

Deputy head of General Headquarters, Col. Gen. Valery Manilov, was recently quoted by Reuters as saying, The modernization the Americans are talking about would, in essence, take all the substance out of the ABM Treaty and make nonsense of [its primary] aim – that is, to maintain a balance between strategic offensive and defensive arms,"adding that any change to this balance would "unavoidably lead to an arms race. It is the general opinion of Russian officials that the NMD would basically nullify START II and end any attempts to ratify START III.

Relations between NATO and Russia have been tepid at best since Moscow opposed the NATO mission in Kosovo in March of 1999. Adding fuel to the fire was NATO's acceptance of Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic into their fold in 1999 and the intention to consider the inclusion of several eastern European nations, namely the former Soviet states of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia. From Moscow's point of view, if Lithuania joins NATO, the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad will be cut off and isolated. The Russian Journal quotes Yeveny Kozhikin, director of the Institute for Strategic Studies; There is a negative attitude toward further eastward expansion among the political establishment, the military and the population, Russia could not accept NATO membership for the Baltic nations under any circumstances. NATO does not sufficiently grasp this.

Russia has no say in which countries apply for and/or are granted NATO membership. Nonetheless, Moscow sees the inclusion of former Soviet states in NATO as a direct threat to its security and sovereignty, orchestrated, primarily, by the U.S. Part of the reason for this stand is the fact that NATO was created in 1949 to protect the West against threats from Moscow. Germany has shown support to Russia's concerns regarding NATO's eastward expansion and warns against doing so too soon.

Today, NATO's official mission statement begins, The fundamental role of NATO is to safeguard the freedom and security of its member countries. It is one of the foundations on which the stability and security of the Euro-Atlantic area depends and it serves as an essential forum for transatlantic consultations on matters affecting the vital security interests of all its members. Its first task is to deter and defend against any threat of aggression against any of them. Many Eastern European countries are eager to be accepted into the NATO family for the sake of their own political survival. To be outside the fold is to, not only not be protected, but to be seen as a potential threat.

While the Iron Curtain buffer created by the European former Soviet states against the threat of European expansion eastward no longer exists, Russia continues to be protective of its western borders and leery of a multi-national alliance adjoining this border. With the acceptance of the Baltic states into NATO, the alliance would then be less than 100 miles from St. Petersburg and, as a result, within easy strike distance of Russia. To many in the West, these may seem like ridiculous fears. To Russia, they are very real and justified. For one thing, Russia is very concerned about the status of the Baltic ports should these three nations become NATO members. Currently, these ports and waterways are of extreme importance to Russian infrastructure and trade.

Next Page >Future Russian-American Relationships > Page 1, 2 , 3

Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

Murder at the Dacha

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.
Tolstoy Bilingual

Tolstoy Bilingual

This compact, yet surprisingly broad look at the life and work of Tolstoy spans from one of his earliest stories to one of his last, looking at works that made him famous and others that made him notorious. 
At the Circus (bilingual)

At the Circus (bilingual)

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.
Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod is a mid-sized provincial city that exists only in Russian metaphorical space. It has its roots in Gogol, and Ilf and Petrov, and is a place far from Moscow, but close to Russian hearts. It is a place of mystery and normality, of provincial innocence and Black Earth wisdom. Strange, inexplicable things happen in Stargorod. So do good things. And bad things. A lot like life everywhere, one might say. Only with a heavy dose of vodka, longing and mystery.
Maria's War: A Soldier's Autobiography

Maria's War: A Soldier's Autobiography

This astonishingly gripping autobiography by the founder of the Russian Women’s Death Battallion in World War I is an eye-opening documentary of life before, during and after the Bolshevik Revolution.
Driving Down Russia's Spine

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 
The Latchkey Murders

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...
Survival Russian

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.
Russian Rules

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.
Fearful Majesty

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955