FEATURE
Russia-Ukraine conflict: Another
view T he escalation of
State James Baker assured
sion is a serious provoca-
comprehensive humanitar-
the Russia-Ukraine
the Soviets that North At-
tion. In direct breach of
ian response and would
conflict shocked
lantic Treaty Organisation
these commitments, NATO
create the necessary
the world and almost
(NATO) would not expand
actively sought to admit
environment for a political
brought it to the brink of a
‘not one inch eastward’.
Ukraine and Georgia as
process that would lead to
world war. But this con-
On 31 January 1990, West
active members. These
sustainable peace.
flict needs to be carefully
German Foreign Minister
moves have been accom-
considered, taking into
Hans-Dietrich Genscher
panied by declarations that
have suffered the conse-
account its root causes.
said that NATO should rule
name Russia and China as
quences of wars that were
out ‘an expansion of its
adversaries in need of con-
not of their own doing. In
printed in the Daily Mav-
territory towards the east’.
tainment. This has proved
most cases, the majority
erick, the Deputy Director-
He advocated for NATO
to be needlessly provoca-
of countries have never
General of Public Diplo-
and the Warsaw Pact to
tive, especially as many
invaded or colonised other
macy in the Department
be eventually dissolved
politicians in leading NATO
countries, yet have suffered
of International Relations
into a model for a com-
countries have warned
their consequences. For
and Cooperation, Clayson
mon approach to European
against this, given that
the past decades, it was
Monyela, wrote: “Docu-
security.
they are known redlines for
NATO and the Western
Russia.”
countries that have been
In an opinion piece
ments at the National
“Instead of honouring
Too many countries
Security Archive at George
these commitments, NATO
Washington University
has admitted 14 eastern
as a global community,
conflicts, often in the form
indicate that in his meeting
European countries to join
we should be working to
of proxy wars in other
with Soviet leader Mikhail
as members since 1999,
end the war by calling for
countries or regions. Pres-
Gorbachev on 9 February
despite Russia’s state-
a cessation of hostilities
ently, we see how Ukraine
1990, then US Secretary of
ments that NATO expan-
as this is the first step in a
is being used as a proxy to
26
South Africa believes that
party to most of these
Public Sector Manager • May 2022
