Russia considers the North Atlantic Alliance not as a partner but as an adversary, and NATO needs a strong force given the challenges posed by Russia.
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said this in an interview with USA Today.
“It’s quite clear that, today, Russia doesn’t consider us a partner, but an adversary. And, obviously, we will have to adapt to that,” he said.
He recalled that the alliance intended to deepen partnership with Russia in the missile defense sphere, but Moscow’s aggression against Ukraine had changed the situation. He called Russian behavior his biggest disappointment since becoming secretary general in 2009.
Beyond Ukraine, Rasmussen said he suspects Russia has a “master plan” to “establish a zone of Russian influence in their near neighborhood, covering the former Soviet space.” He said Russian intimidation of Georgia and Moldova are other examples.
The Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia feel especially threatened by Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said. Officials there cited the recent detentions of an Estonian officer and a Lithuanian fishing vessel, as well as Russian pledges to protect the rights of Russian speaking communities in other countries.
Meanwhile, Rasmussen said: “I don’t think there is an imminent threat against NATO allies. Russia knows that if they were to attack a NATO ally, the response would be firm and fast.”
According to the NATO secretary general, the challenges of Russia and the Islamic State have created “an arc of crisis” around NATO nations, Rasmussen said. “We need a strong force for freedom,” he said. “That’s why we need a strong NATO.”
As reported, former Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen is leaving the post of NATO secretary general on October 1, and this post will be taken up by former Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg.
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