The features of a new Cold War have appeared in relations between Russia and the West, says a Finnish professor of political science
The new NATO strategy is more reminiscent of the strategy of the Cold War than the one that existed after its end, the Finnish political scientist said in an interview with Yle. But he warns that the current conflicts cannot be resolved as before: the situation in the world has become more fragile.
Päivi Suikkanen (Päivi Suikkanen)
The features of a new Cold war have appeared in relations between Russia and NATO. Tensions have engulfed political and military relations — as well as economic and cultural ties, says Professor Tuomas Forsberg.
"The new NATO strategy is more reminiscent of the strategy of the Cold War than the strategy that existed after its end," Forsberg believes.
Invited to the A-studio morning show, Forsberg nevertheless warns against making direct analogies. The cold War of the last century was characterized by a global split of world systems, which does not exist now. And Russia is smaller than the USSR.
"It is dangerous to believe that the Cold War can repeat itself exactly. There are new aspects, the current conflicts will not be resolved as before. In a sense, the situation has become more fragile."
Forsberg recalls that the Cold War was a conflict of ideologies. And although there are ideological elements in the relations between Russia and NATO, this is not the main thing in the current situation.
"This is a conflict of national interests rather than an ideological conflict," the professor of political science believes.
Former Finnish Ambassador to Russia Hannu Himanen, in turn, believes that if Russia is spoken of as a threat, it does not mean outright hostility.
There are certain features of the Cold War in relations between Russia and the West, there is a certain sense of division, Himanen is sure. Russia is isolating itself from others, and it is being isolated, it is opposed by a united West.
"The conflict has ideological dimensions, it is connected with values. This is the era of protecting national interests and the politics of force," Himanen says.
In the new NATO strategy, Russia is presented as the "main threat" to the security of member countries. In the previous strategy, approved in 2010, Russia was considered a strategic partner of the alliance.
The strategic concept pays special attention to the tasks, values and security aspects of the alliance.
On July fifth, the Foreign Ministers of Finland and Sweden, Pekka Haavisto and Ann Linde, signed protocols on joining the alliance at NATO headquarters. The document was also signed by the ambassadors of 30 NATO countries. Finland and Sweden will receive the status of NATO observer countries.
