Tactical Nuclear Weapons and NATO.pdf - Program on Strategic ...

self from the conflict. Of course, Germany was not the
only Ally with reservations concerning the Libyan operation;
several other Allies showed little enthusiasm
for the operation in part because of their fatigue with
the political, budgetary, <strong>and</strong> personnel dem<strong>and</strong>s of
expeditionary efforts in Afghanistan <strong>and</strong> elsewhere.
Meanwhile, Russia’s behavior has contributed to
renewed attention to <strong>NATO</strong>’s collective defense role.
To be sure, Russia does not represent the type of immediate
threat posed by the Soviet Union, <strong>and</strong> no
Allied government advocates a return to Cold War
models of territorial defense. Still, Russian actions in
Georgia (especially during the August 2008 conflict)
<strong>and</strong> elsewhere in the former Soviet space, combined
with menacing statements—recall, for example, President
Dmitry Medvedev’s vow “to protect the life <strong>and</strong>
dignity of [Russian] citizens, wherever they are” 3 —
sparked particular concern among Central <strong>and</strong> Eastern
Europe (CEE) Allies. Indeed, some divine a deliberate
Russian strategy that extends from actions to
discourage investments in southern energy pipelines
to intimidating Ukraine <strong>and</strong> other neighbors in the
“near abroad” with substantial populations of ethnic
Russians. Such concerns recently were heightened by
Medvedev’s threat that Russia will take military countermeasures
(to include deploying short-range Isk<strong>and</strong>er
missiles in Kaliningrad) to defeat <strong>NATO</strong> missile
defenses if they are deployed without “legal guarantees”
sought by Moscow.
Other Allies seem to assess Russian strategy <strong>and</strong>
behavior in less threatening terms. Some are inclined
to see Georgia as a one-of-a-kind action—an opportunistic
show of force to destabilize a weak but impetuous
neighbor <strong>and</strong> prevent further <strong>NATO</strong> enlargement.
Similarly, noting examples of Russian cooperation
362