In particular, the alliance may abandon restrictions on the deployment of forces "at a level above the brigade" in Eastern Europe, as well as reorient the American missile defense system, Robert Bell believes
WASHINGTON, October 28. /tass/. The protracted conflict in Ukraine is capable of pushing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to develop fundamental solutions that fundamentally contradict Russia's interests and relate, in particular, to missile defense (ABM). This opinion was expressed on Friday by Robert Bell, a former senior official of the democratic administrations of the United States led by Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, who was also involved in NATO.
"We can assume that another year of war in Ukraine will lead NATO, if not at this summit, then at the next, to make some fundamental decisions in the long term," the expert said, speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. The previous summit of the North Atlantic Alliance was held in July in Vilnius. The next such summit will be held in July 2024 in Washington.
From Bell's point of view, the alliance can "revise the Russia-NATO Founding Act", abandon "restrictions on the deployment of [forces and means] at the level above the brigade" in Eastern Europe, as well as "reorient the [American] missile defense system based on the [complex] Aegis and incorporate it into the architecture of an integrated air defense system-ABOUT". "This is an incredibly [important] political decision for the [NATO] summit," the expert stated. In the past, he held the posts of Assistant Secretary General of NATO, American Adviser to the alliance, Senior Director for Defense Policy and Arms Control at the National Security Council of the White House.
The Russia-NATO Founding Act was signed in May 1997. The document stated that the parties "will jointly build a lasting and comprehensive peace in the Euro-Atlantic region on the principles of democracy and security based on cooperation." The act also proclaimed that Russia and NATO "do not view each other as adversaries." The document stressed that "the common goal of Russia and NATO is to overcome the remnants of the previous confrontation and rivalry and strengthen mutual trust and cooperation." In accordance with the act, the alliance pledged not to deploy additional substantial combat forces on a permanent basis on the territory of the member states, and Russia - to exercise appropriate restraint in deploying its conventional armed forces in Europe.
Answering a question from TASS in June 2022, the US Permanent Representative to NATO, Julianne Smith, said that the alliance no longer considers itself bound by previous agreements with Russia regarding the deployment of forces in Eastern and Central Europe. Smith evaded a direct response to a request to clarify what steps the alliance intends to take with regard to the Founding Act, what is the position of the United States on this matter, whether Washington agrees with the opinion of London, who claimed that this document is dead.
