THE EUROPEAN – SECURITY AND DEFENCE UNION
Russia is not a partner, but a political opponent the west needs to reckon with by Dr Sabine Fischer, Senior Research Fellow, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik/German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), Berlin
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as a new reason for tension in a region close to us, for putting pressure on Minsk. […] But Russia will undoubtedly continue its policy of strengthening ties and deepening integration with Belarus.” Two weeks later Moscow published draft treaties it wants to conclude with the United States and NATO which would stipulate an end of NATO’s open door policy and the division of Europe into an American and a Russian sphere of influence.
fter almost eight years of conflict since Russia’s annexation of Crimea it is difficult to imagine that relations between the EU and Russia can get worse – and yet events of this winter teach us that we may not have reached the bottom. As tensions flare along the Russian-Ukrainian border and around Belarus, Russia acts from a position of strength: Moscow believes that the EU is weak and inward looking, and the Biden adminisMoscow’s destabilisation policy on neighbours tration is continuing the gradual exit of the US from Europe. NASince the beginning of 2021, Russian policy has been creatTO’s withdrawal from Afghanistan is seen in Russia as inflicting ing a triangle of insecurity along its western border. Russian severe damage to the west’s (and particularly the US’s) reputation of being a reliable ally. The takeover of the Taliban in Kabul is a challenge to Russian security but opens a window Dr phil. Sabine Fischer of opportunity to shape the regional order has been Senior Fellow at the Division Eastern Europe around Afghanistan. and Eurasia of the German Institute for International Moscow clearly feels encouraged to push for and Security Affairs (SWP) in Berlin since May 2021. its goals. President Putin has become much Her research focuses on the foreign and security poli more outspoken on “red lines”. At the begincy of Russia, EU-Russia and Eastern Europe-Eurasia ning of December, he said: “[…] we will insist relations. Since 2021 she is, amongst other functions, photo: SWP on the elaboration of concrete agreements Member of the Europe/Transatlantic Advisory Board that would rule out any eastward expansion of of the Heinrich Böll Foundation and Member of the Executive Board of the NATO and the deployment of weapons systems German Association for East European Studies (DGO). Before taking up her posing a threat to us […].” He also accused current post, Ms Fischer was Team Leader for the Public Diplomacy – EU western countries of “using the migration crisis and Russia Project at the Goethe Institute in Moscow. on the border between Belarus and Poland
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photo: ©2020 Asatu r Yesayants/Shutterstock.
Moscow believes that the EU is weak
