On Tuesday, NATO member countries are preparing to sign the accession protocol for Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership.
21:49•Updated 22:25
The relationship between Russia and NATO has the characteristics of a new Cold War. The tense situation does not only concern political and military relations, but also economic and cultural relations, says the director of the research college of the University of Helsinki, professor Tuomas Forsberg.
– NATO’s new strategy is more like what it was during the Cold War than what it was after the Cold War, says Forsberg.
Forsberg, who visited A-studio on Monday, warns against too easily combining two different eras. The difference between the previous cold war and the current situation is that there is no similar division globally. Russia is also smaller than the Soviet Union.
– It can be dangerous to think that all doctrines and practices from the Cold War would be implemented as they are. There are new elements and conflicts cannot be managed in the same way. The situation is somehow more sensitive now.
Forsberg reminds us that the Cold War was an ideological conflict. Although there are ideological elements in the relationship between Russia and NATO, in the current situation it is a side plot.
– This is more of a traditional conflict brought about by national interest and not so much a conflict driven by ideology, characterizes the professor of international politics.
Finland’s former ambassador to Russia Hannu Himanen states that if Russia is spoken of as a threat, it does not mean direct hostility.
According to Himanen, the situation between Russia and the West has to some extent Cold War characteristics, a tone of division. Russia isolates itself and it will be isolated, the opposite is a united West.
– The conflict has an ideological dimension, and it comes specifically through values. If we call this a new cold war, this is an era of national interest and power politics, says Himanen
In NATO’s new strategy, Russia is described as “the most significant and direct threat” to the security of the allies. In the previous strategy approved in 2010, Russia was still seen as NATO’s strategic partner.
The strategic concept outlines NATO’s tasks, emphasis and, among other things, the security environment.
NATO member countries are preparing to sign the accession protocol regarding Finland’s NATO membership at the NATO Council on Tuesday, July 5. The signatories are the ambassadors of NATO countries.
Foreign minister Pekka Haavisto (green) participates in the signing ceremony. The accession protocol regarding Sweden’s NATO membership will be signed at the same event.
After signing, Finland and Sweden will become observer members of NATO.