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NATO-OTCS Mutual Recognition Rejected by U.S.
February 11, 2010
By: Paul Larson | Printer Friendly

The Obama administration has responded negatively to Russian calls for its own sphere of influence, according to the Democracy Digest.

In June 2008, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called for an all-European summit to discuss binding security agreements between the U.S. and E.U. controlled North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Russian dominated Organization of the Treaty of Collective Security (OTCS).  The security agreement would establish mutual recognition between NATO and OTCS.  Euractive reports that mutual recognition between the military alliances would establish a de facto acceptance of a Russian sphere of influence including Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

Russian Ambassador to NATO Dmitry Rogozin commented to journalists, “We fail to understand why the USA can have a global sphere of influence, but Russia is denied even a regional sphere.”  According to Open Society Institute’s Central Eurasia Project, Russia wants to end NATO’s security supremacy in Europe and any further encroachment east. 
There are at least two major concerns regarding Russia’s proposal.  First, Secretary Clinton criticized Russia’s poor human rights record and more recent steps away from democratization, according to the Democracy Digest.  She further asserted in Paris that, “We object to any spheres of influence in Europe in which one country seeks to control another’s future.”

Second, there is diminished trust in Russia‘s commitment to international agreements because of its non-compliance with existing treaties.  For example, Russia has violated the Adapted Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty and Georgia ceasefire agreement, according to the German Marshall Fund of the United States.  Russia has also violated agreements through non-military means such as energy cutoffs and cyber attacks.

Sources:

Arms Control Association - Russia Drafts European Security Pact

Democracy Digest - U.S. rejects Kremlin’s ’spheres of influence’, will continue twin-track strategy of engagement and fostering democracy

Euractiv - Russia asks West to recognize its sphere of influence

German Marshall Fund of the United States - Russia’s proposal for a new European security architecture: The wrong blueprint

Open Society Institute - RUSSIAN PROPOSAL FOR NEW EUROPEAN SECURITY PACT ENCOUNTERS SKEPTICISM