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Born Again in East La: the Congregation as Border Space

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December 22, 2021

© Photo: REUTERS/POOL New

Unlike in 1990, Russia has many options left to itself if NATO ignores its proposal for peace and continues to advance on the old Soviet space.

As NATO continues its mission creep inexorably towards the Russian border, Moscow issued a security proposal to the Western military bloc, which is in fact nothing less than an ultimatum: halt whatever further eastward military advances or Russian federation will be forced to act on behalf of its national interests.

The engagement February ix, 1990 will be forever remembered amidst historians as a 'day of infamy' as far as NATO-Russia relations are concerned. That was the date when U.S. Secretary of State James Baker famously assured Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, during glasnost-era talks on German unification that the Western armed services bloc would not accelerate "one inch eastward" towards Russia's borders.

The level of deception contained in that empty pledge is easily discernible today equally NATO membership has exploded since the Common cold State of war times to 30 member states. In 2004, the former Soviet states of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia joined NATO at the 2004 Istanbul summit; Albania and Croatia became members in 2009, while North Macedonia joined in 2020.

Already, the Western military bloc abuts Russia's northwestern border in the Baltic States of Latvia and Estonia. Merely now with the political tinderbox known as Ukraine actively seeking membership in NATO, Moscow has produced what amounts to an ultimatum, where the carrot is just the preservation of peace amongst the globe'southward nuclear superpowers.

Will the US-led organization bite? On the question of NATO, the draft agreement on security states that "The United States of America shall take measures to prevent further due east expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty System (NATO) and deny accession to the Alliance to the former USSR republics."

With the mess in Ukraine in mind, the typhoon emphasizes an obligation on the part of Washington and its allies non to institute military machine bases in sometime Soviet states that are not NATO members, not to use their infrastructure to carry out any military machine activities, and non to build bilateral armed forces cooperation with them.

Moscow's offer comes among misleading and dangerous claims by Western leaders that Russia is looking to put boots on the footing in Ukraine, possibly equally early on as Christmas, remarks that have no ground in reality. In fact, it has been the Due west that has been ratcheting up tensions in the region.

Just last month, US bombers simulated a nuclear strike on Russia, with some of the aircraft approaching inside 12.4 miles (20 kilometers) of the Russian border during the exercise, according to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

"We are witnessing a considerable increase in the U.s.a. strategic bombers' activeness about the Russian borders. Over the past month, they conducted nigh 30 flights to the borders of the Russian Federation, or 2.v times more compared to the same menstruation of concluding yr," Shoigu said during talks with his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe, Tass reported.

Meanwhile, U.S. weapons sales to Ukraine have been accelerating at a worrisome rate. This month it was revealed that Uncle Sam sent 30 Javelin anti-tank guided missile systems to Ukraine in October every bit role of its annual military help procurement to aid defend against that perennial bogeyman known every bit 'Russian aggression.'

Russian lawmakers take warned that the United states of america decision to provide Kiev with lethal weapons presented a blow to the Minsk Accords, an agreement adopted in September 2014 to ensure a ceasefire in the Donbas, and a threat to the security of the whole of Europe.

"Of course the [U.s.a.] Congress members must empathize that the supplies of lethal weapons to Ukraine would destroy the Minsk agreements at the very 2d they first," Russian Deputy head of Committee for Defense and Security, Frants Klintsevich, told RIA Novosti. "Extending $350 million in armed forces aid to Kiev is a straight telephone call for them to start a full-scale war in Donbas."

From the Kremlin'due south perspective, the farther militarization of Ukraine and the Donbas by the US and its allies volition make it almost a moot point whether Kiev is a full-fledged member of NATO or non. Fatal mistakes can easily happen. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in much the same style that former Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili tempted fate in 2008 with an ill-advised set on on the cocky-proclaimed republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which left several Russian peacekeepers dead, may be attempted to do something equally foolish and rash, especially if he believes the W has his back.

Zelensky certainly is aware – despite being fully immersed in comedy piece of work at the time – that Moscow responded to Tbilisi's deed of aggression with a large-scale land, air and sea invasion of Georgia proper that the Russian military wrapped up in merely four days.

Will Western leaders have Russia'due south proposal in the name of peace on the European continent and beyond? While the Us has yet to respond to Russian federation'south offer, there is no dubiety Moscow's patience is growing thin.

"Since the end of the Cold War, Russia has been repeatedly assured that NATO's jurisdiction and armed services forces volition not motility an inch eastwards," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said before this month. "All these promises take been forgotten and non fulfilled. The result is the current sorry land of European security."

"We are convinced that the only option for resolving the current situation is the joint evolution of long-term agreements that rule out whatever further NATO advances eastward and the deployment of weapons systems threatening usa in the firsthand vicinity of Russian territory," she added.

Unlike in 1990, Russia has many options left to itself if NATO ignores its proposal for peace and continues to advance on the sometime Soviet space, a clear red line for Moscow.

One selection is for Republic of belarus to host Russian nuclear weapons on its territory, an offer that was formally proposed in November past Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko, who has his ain beef with the Westward, having just survived a made-to-order Western-backed colour revolution in the capitol Minsk.

"I will suggest that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin render nuclear weapons to Belarus," Lukashenko said in comments to RIA Novosti.

Lukashenko is responding to irresponsible remarks past NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, who said that NATO's nuclear weapons "provide European Allies with an effective nuclear umbrella. This, of course, also includes our eastern Allies and they are an important signal of Centrolineal unity against any nuclear-armed adversary." Needless to say, that comment did piddling to condolement Moscow about NATO'southward real intentions.

Although it remains to exist seen if Russia would actually identify its nukes in Republic of belarus, there are other strategic options left to Moscow, which should make Europeans recollect twice about Russia's proposal for long-term peace. Amid NATO'southward continuous advance eastward, it's not difficult to imagine Russia lining its western border with some of the most fearsome weapons known to flesh. Afterwards all, nosotros are not talking nigh Russian federation circa 1990, or even 2004, when its options for responding to Western machinations were not overly convincing.

Today, and especially afterward Russia's stunning performance in Syria confronting Islamic Land, no military leader worth his stars would underestimate the power and effectiveness of the Russian military.

Under an ambitious military reform initiative put forward past Putin and his Defence Minister Shoigu, Russia is now in possession of a world-grade armed services motorcar, outfitted with some the earth'southward finest technology, including hypersonic missiles, which have no analogues in the world.

Although it'south certainly not Moscow's commencement choice for preserving peace, should NATO decline its offer – which is in reality a friendly ultimatum – then look for the Russian federation-European edge to revert back to Cold War levels of fear, paranoia and militarization, which is really the final thing the earth needs right now.

Russian federation Advises NATO to (Finally) Honor Its 'Not I Inch Eastward' Pledge

Unlike in 1990, Russia has many options left to itself if NATO ignores its proposal for peace and continues to advance on the former Soviet space.

As NATO continues its mission creep inexorably towards the Russian border, Moscow issued a security proposal to the Western military bloc, which is in fact nothing less than an ultimatum: halt whatsoever further eastward war machine advances or Russia will be forced to act on behalf of its national interests.

The date Feb 9, 1990 volition exist forever remembered among historians as a 'day of infamy' as far as NATO-Russian federation relations are concerned. That was the date when U.S. Secretarial assistant of Land James Bakery famously bodacious Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, during glasnost-era talks on German unification that the Western military bloc would not advance "one inch eastward" towards Russia's borders.

The level of deception contained in that empty pledge is easily discernible today as NATO membership has exploded since the Cold War times to 30 member states. In 2004, the quondam Soviet states of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Republic of lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia joined NATO at the 2004 Istanbul summit; Albania and Croatia became members in 2009, while North Macedonia joined in 2020.

Already, the Western military bloc abuts Russian federation's northwestern border in the Baltic States of Republic of latvia and Republic of estonia. But now with the political tinderbox known as Ukraine actively seeking membership in NATO, Moscow has produced what amounts to an ultimatum, where the carrot is simply the preservation of peace among the world's nuclear superpowers.

Will the US-led organization bite? On the question of NATO, the draft agreement on security states that "The Usa of America shall take measures to foreclose further east expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and deny accession to the Alliance to the former USSR republics."

With the mess in Ukraine in mind, the draft emphasizes an obligation on the part of Washington and its allies not to establish military bases in erstwhile Soviet states that are not NATO members, not to apply their infrastructure to carry out whatsoever military activities, and not to build bilateral military cooperation with them.

Moscow's offer comes amid misleading and dangerous claims by Western leaders that Russia is looking to put boots on the ground in Ukraine, possibly equally early as Christmas, remarks that have no ground in reality. In fact, information technology has been the West that has been ratcheting upward tensions in the region.

Just last month, U.s. bombers faux a nuclear strike on Russia, with some of the aircraft approaching inside 12.4 miles (xx kilometers) of the Russian border during the exercise, co-ordinate to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

"We are witnessing a considerable increase in the US strategic bombers' activity almost the Russian borders. Over the past calendar month, they conducted about 30 flights to the borders of the Russian Federation, or 2.v times more compared to the same catamenia of last year," Shoigu said during talks with his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe, Tass reported.

Meanwhile, U.S. weapons sales to Ukraine have been accelerating at a worrisome rate. This month it was revealed that Uncle Sam sent 30 Javelin anti-tank guided missile systems to Ukraine in October as part of its annual military help procurement to help defend against that perennial bogeyman known as 'Russian aggression.'

Russian lawmakers have warned that the US decision to provide Kiev with lethal weapons presented a blow to the Minsk Accords, an agreement adopted in September 2014 to ensure a ceasefire in the Donbas, and a threat to the security of the whole of Europe.

"Of course the [US] Congress members must understand that the supplies of lethal weapons to Ukraine would destroy the Minsk agreements at the very second they beginning," Russian Deputy head of Committee for Defense and Security, Frants Klintsevich, told RIA Novosti. "Extending $350 million in military aid to Kiev is a direct call for them to start a full-scale war in Donbas."

From the Kremlin's perspective, the further militarization of Ukraine and the Donbas by the The states and its allies will brand information technology almost a moot point whether Kiev is a full-fledged member of NATO or not. Fatal mistakes can easily happen. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in much the same way that sometime Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili tempted fate in 2008 with an sick-brash attack on the cocky-proclaimed republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which left several Russian peacekeepers dead, may be attempted to exercise something every bit foolish and rash, especially if he believes the W has his back.

Zelensky certainly is aware – despite beingness fully immersed in one-act work at the time – that Moscow responded to Tbilisi'southward deed of aggression with a large-calibration land, air and ocean invasion of Georgia proper that the Russian military wrapped upwards in just four days.

Volition Western leaders accept Russia'south proposal in the proper noun of peace on the European continent and across? While the US has however to respond to Russian federation'southward offer, at that place is no doubt Moscow'southward patience is growing thin.

"Since the end of the Cold War, Russia has been repeatedly bodacious that NATO'southward jurisdiction and military forces will non movement an inch eastwards," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said before this calendar month. "All these promises have been forgotten and non fulfilled. The outcome is the current sad land of European security."

"We are convinced that the but option for resolving the electric current situation is the joint development of long-term agreements that rule out any farther NATO advances eastward and the deployment of weapons systems threatening u.s. in the immediate vicinity of Russian territory," she added.

Unlike in 1990, Russian federation has many options left to itself if NATO ignores its proposal for peace and continues to advance on the former Soviet space, a articulate reddish line for Moscow.

One selection is for Republic of belarus to host Russian nuclear weapons on its territory, an offer that was formally proposed in November past Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko, who has his own beef with the West, having merely survived a fabricated-to-guild Western-backed color revolution in the capitol Minsk.

"I will suggest that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin return nuclear weapons to Republic of belarus," Lukashenko said in comments to RIA Novosti.

Lukashenko is responding to irresponsible remarks by NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, who said that NATO'south nuclear weapons "provide European Allies with an effective nuclear umbrella. This, of course, as well includes our eastern Allies and they are an of import betoken of Allied unity against any nuclear-armed antagonist." Needless to say, that comment did little to comfort Moscow nigh NATO's real intentions.

Although it remains to exist seen if Russia would actually place its nukes in Belarus, there are other strategic options left to Moscow, which should make Europeans call up twice about Russian federation's proposal for long-term peace. Amid NATO'southward continuous advance eastward, it'due south not difficult to imagine Russia lining its western border with some of the most fearsome weapons known to mankind. After all, we are not talking about Russian federation circa 1990, or even 2004, when its options for responding to Western machinations were non overly disarming.

Today, and especially after Russia's stunning functioning in Syrian arab republic against Islamic State, no armed services leader worth his stars would underestimate the ability and effectiveness of the Russian military.

Under an ambitious military reform initiative put forward by Putin and his Defence force Government minister Shoigu, Russia is now in possession of a globe-form military machine, outfitted with some the globe's finest technology, including hypersonic missiles, which have no analogues in the world.

Although it's certainly non Moscow'southward first pick for preserving peace, should NATO refuse its offer – which is in reality a friendly ultimatum – then wait for the Russia-European border to revert dorsum to Common cold War levels of fear, paranoia and militarization, which is really the last matter the globe needs correct at present.

Unlike in 1990, Russian federation has many options left to itself if NATO ignores its proposal for peace and continues to advance on the former Soviet space.

Equally NATO continues its mission pitter-patter inexorably towards the Russian border, Moscow issued a security proposal to the Western military bloc, which is in fact goose egg less than an ultimatum: halt any further eastward military advances or Russia volition exist forced to human action on behalf of its national interests.

The engagement Feb 9, 1990 will be forever remembered among historians as a 'twenty-four hour period of infamy' as far as NATO-Russia relations are concerned. That was the date when U.S. Secretary of State James Baker famously assured Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, during glasnost-era talks on High german unification that the Western armed forces bloc would not advance "one inch due east" towards Russian federation's borders.

The level of deception contained in that empty pledge is easily discernible today as NATO membership has exploded since the Cold War times to thirty fellow member states. In 2004, the former Soviet states of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia joined NATO at the 2004 Istanbul acme; Republic of albania and Croatia became members in 2009, while North Macedonia joined in 2020.

Already, the Western armed services bloc abuts Russia'south northwestern border in the Baltic States of Republic of latvia and Republic of estonia. But at present with the political tinderbox known equally Ukraine actively seeking membership in NATO, Moscow has produced what amounts to an ultimatum, where the carrot is simply the preservation of peace among the world'southward nuclear superpowers.

Will the US-led organization bite? On the question of NATO, the draft agreement on security states that "The Us of America shall take measures to forestall farther due east expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty System (NATO) and deny accretion to the Brotherhood to the former USSR republics."

With the mess in Ukraine in heed, the draft emphasizes an obligation on the role of Washington and its allies non to establish military bases in old Soviet states that are not NATO members, not to use their infrastructure to carry out whatever military activities, and not to build bilateral military cooperation with them.

Moscow's offer comes amid misleading and dangerous claims by Western leaders that Russia is looking to put boots on the footing in Ukraine, possibly as early equally Christmas, remarks that have no basis in reality. In fact, it has been the West that has been ratcheting up tensions in the region.

Just final month, United states of america bombers simulated a nuclear strike on Russian federation, with some of the aircraft approaching within 12.4 miles (20 kilometers) of the Russian edge during the practice, according to Russian Defense force Minister Sergei Shoigu.

"We are witnessing a considerable increase in the US strategic bombers' activity nigh the Russian borders. Over the past month, they conducted about thirty flights to the borders of the Russian Federation, or two.5 times more than compared to the same period of final year," Shoigu said during talks with his Chinese analogue Wei Fenghe, Tass reported.

Meanwhile, U.South. weapons sales to Ukraine take been accelerating at a worrisome rate. This month it was revealed that Uncle Sam sent 30 Javelin anti-tank guided missile systems to Ukraine in Oct as role of its annual military assist procurement to help defend against that perennial bogeyman known as 'Russian assailment.'

Russian lawmakers have warned that the United states conclusion to provide Kiev with lethal weapons presented a accident to the Minsk Accords, an agreement adopted in September 2014 to ensure a ceasefire in the Donbas, and a threat to the security of the whole of Europe.

"Of form the [U.s.a.] Congress members must understand that the supplies of lethal weapons to Ukraine would destroy the Minsk agreements at the very 2nd they start," Russian Deputy head of Commission for Defense and Security, Frants Klintsevich, told RIA Novosti. "Extending $350 one thousand thousand in military machine aid to Kiev is a direct call for them to starting time a total-scale war in Donbas."

From the Kremlin'southward perspective, the further militarization of Ukraine and the Donbas by the US and its allies will go far almost a moot point whether Kiev is a full-fledged member of NATO or not. Fatal mistakes can hands happen. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in much the same mode that sometime Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili tempted fate in 2008 with an ill-advised attack on the self-proclaimed republics of Southward Ossetia and Abkhazia, which left several Russian peacekeepers dead, may be attempted to practice something equally foolish and rash, especially if he believes the West has his back.

Zelensky certainly is aware – despite being fully immersed in comedy work at the time – that Moscow responded to Tbilisi'south act of aggression with a large-scale country, air and ocean invasion of Georgia proper that the Russian military wrapped up in but four days.

Volition Western leaders accept Russia'due south proposal in the name of peace on the European continent and beyond? While the US has nevertheless to respond to Russia'due south offer, there is no doubt Moscow's patience is growing sparse.

"Since the cease of the Cold War, Russia has been repeatedly assured that NATO'south jurisdiction and armed services forces will not move an inch eastwards," Russian Foreign Ministry building spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said before this month. "All these promises have been forgotten and not fulfilled. The event is the electric current sad land of European security."

"We are convinced that the only choice for resolving the current state of affairs is the articulation development of long-term agreements that dominion out whatsoever further NATO advances eastward and the deployment of weapons systems threatening us in the firsthand vicinity of Russian territory," she added.

Unlike in 1990, Russia has many options left to itself if NATO ignores its proposal for peace and continues to advance on the sometime Soviet infinite, a clear ruby-red line for Moscow.

1 selection is for Republic of belarus to host Russian nuclear weapons on its territory, an offer that was formally proposed in November by Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko, who has his own beef with the W, having only survived a made-to-society Western-backed color revolution in the capitol Minsk.

"I will suggest that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin return nuclear weapons to Belarus," Lukashenko said in comments to RIA Novosti.

Lukashenko is responding to irresponsible remarks by NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, who said that NATO'southward nuclear weapons "provide European Allies with an effective nuclear umbrella. This, of course, besides includes our eastern Allies and they are an important signal of Allied unity against any nuclear-armed adversary." Needless to say, that comment did footling to comfort Moscow about NATO's real intentions.

Although it remains to exist seen if Russian federation would actually place its nukes in Republic of belarus, there are other strategic options left to Moscow, which should make Europeans think twice well-nigh Russia's proposal for long-term peace. Amid NATO'southward continuous advance eastward, information technology's not hard to imagine Russia lining its western edge with some of the virtually fearsome weapons known to flesh. After all, we are non talking about Russian federation circa 1990, or even 2004, when its options for responding to Western machinations were not overly convincing.

Today, and especially after Russian federation's stunning performance in Syria confronting Islamic Land, no armed services leader worth his stars would underestimate the power and effectiveness of the Russian armed services.

Nether an ambitious military reform initiative put forrard past Putin and his Defense Minister Shoigu, Russia is now in possession of a world-class armed forces, outfitted with some the world'due south finest technology, including hypersonic missiles, which have no analogues in the globe.

Although it's certainly not Moscow's first choice for preserving peace, should NATO pass up its offer – which is in reality a friendly ultimatum – and so look for the Russia-European border to revert back to Common cold War levels of fear, paranoia and militarization, which is really the last thing the earth needs right now.

The views of individual contributors do not necessarily represent those of the Strategic Culture Foundation.

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Robert Bridge

American writer and journalist.

The views of individual contributors do not necessarily represent those of the Strategic Culture Foundation.

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Source: https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2021/12/22/russia-advises-nato-to-finally-honor-its-not-one-inch-eastward-pledge/

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