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National Security: Russia, Crimea and NATO

· Side by Side ·

Editor's note: This week, we're introducing a new format from Glasgow-based columnists Michael Burns and Alec Carmichael, who have agreed to square off on issues of national and international significance. Less a debate format than an opportunity to feature in-depth discussion, "Side by Side" will feature structured analysis of current events complete with fact-checking, editorial support and, when necessary, informal arbitration. Eat your heart out social media. To suggest a topic for our duo, write to [email protected].

NATO prevented the Cold War from heating up. Decades have passed since its greatest accomplishment and recently the question is routinely posed whether its existence is relevant. Current events have developed a renewed purpose for NATO and specific concerns for U.S. national security.

Russia is at the very least perceived by most of Western civilization as a global menace. It faces not only charges of interference at the deepest of levels within our own government but has also come under fire around the world for meddling in additional elections that are not its own. Putin maintains high approval ratings among his people, but the American right criticized Obama for not being tough enough with him a few years ago concerning global episodes. Now the left is equally upset regarding recent events. While the undermining of our democracy is a serious threat, yet still unproven, Russia has concretely committed greater sins that are slowly turning the world on its axis.

In 2014, Russian troops mobilized and marched into the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea to hold a referendum on whether Crimea would be annexed into Russia. There is a long political and social history regarding the merits of whether Crimea truly belongs in Russia but the tactics executed were beyond inappropriate and questioned the sovereignty of Ukraine, an independent country. In 2008, Russia launched an invasion against the country of Georgia. This led to a full scale war Georgia lost resulting in its absorption into Russia. Following these two victories, Russia has been waging a civil war in Ukraine with unmarked Russian equipment and soldiers, all the while claiming they have not directly been involved or crossed the Russian and Ukrainian border. This is becoming a more complex problem for NATO, which fears further encroachments by Russia. After Ukraine, the next possible target is in the air.

No two superpowers have had a head-to-head non-proxy war since World War II. Nuclear holocaust between two superpowers would be destruction never seen before. This would be the consequence of total war. The United States and the other twenty-seven members of NATO have had to walk a tightrope to help ensure this. Kennedy’s steady hand in the Cuban Missile Crisis avoided nuclear war and those who grew up in the 50s and 60s remember the hovering dark cloud of nuclear proliferation. Russia’s recent aggressive expansions with non-NATO states and an ongoing civil war in Ukraine brings us closer to a conflict. NATO’s main strategy has always been deterrence through its large coalition of countries. Cold War tactics that have been dormant for some time are now being put back into place to restrain Russia, who is oddly reclaiming its infamy.

Last week, the Trump administration said Russia would be held accountable for its actions in Ukraine. Secretary of Defense General Mattis has begun building its relationship with Russia from a position of strength.With NATO, he has arranged a new agreement with the Baltic States bordering Ukraine. NATO troops have been given authority to cross over this region which gives them a day’s striking distance to Russia. This sends a signal to Russia that there are real consequences if they take their expansionist foreign policy further. It is the type of action that gives NATO value and real world weight not seen for a long time. It strengthens world security and prevents the U.S. from a war it would be contractually bound to participate in if one of its European allies was victimized next. However, the discrediting of NATO is ongoing through Russian propaganda. This week, a false story of German NATO troops accused of raping an underage girl in Latvia was put out by the press. NATO says it was fake news distributed by the Russian government to hurt NATO’s reputation around the world and the Latvian police confirmed these events never happened. As events continue to unfold, it will be even more important for Russia to paint NATO as corrupt, wrong or unfair to Russia in order for Russia to gain sympathizers around the world as they proceed with their questionable foreign policy.

 

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