Quadriga
Russia and the United States -- Return to the Cold War?
Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: The first time a Russian President addressed the Munich Security Conference has become one of the most spectacular speeches of the event’s 45-year history. Vladimir Putin took the opportunity to lash out at the United States. Using unusually harsh wording, Putin said the US has overstepped its national borders in every way and is nourishing a new arms race. He went on to call the US dangerous accusing it of an "almost unrestrained use of military force." Putin also said, "Nobody feels secure anymore because nobody can hide behind international law."
Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Provocative as the wording of Putin’s speech may have been, its theme came as no real surprise. Relations between the United States and Russia have been cooling for some time. Russia has often shown consternation over US criticism of what Moscow considers domestic issues. US critique has often been more direct than Russia is used to from other countries. The Kremlin also considers American plans to build a missile defence system in Eastern Europe, specifically in Poland and the Czech Republic, a direct provocation. Though the US has emphasised that the radar systems and interceptor missiles are not aimed toward Russia, Putin took the opportunity in Munich to threaten the possibility of an asymmetric response, though he did not define what that may be.
Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Military expenditures in Russia currently amount to only a fraction of what the US spends. But just a few days before the Munich conference, Russian defence minister Sergei Ivanov announced that the Russian arsenal would soon undergo a major overhaul. Over the next eight years, the Kremlin wants to invest some 145 billion euros, replacing nearly half of its weapons systems. Continued high oil prices make an investment of that magnitude feasible. With financing not a stumbling block, are there any political hurdles to surmount? Many observers in Europe wonder if a return to the Cold War is inevitable.
What do you think?
Russia and the United States -- Return to the Cold War?
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Our guests were:
Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Andreas Rinke - After studying history in Hanover, London and Paris, Andreas Rinke began a career in journalism, initially working as a political editor at the "Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung". He came to Berlin in the year 2000 to take up a job at the "Handelsblatt". He still works for the daily financial newspaper as deputy bureau chief responsible for foreign and security policy.
Sergey Lagodinsky - was born in Russia and emigrated to Germany in 1993. He is a fellow with the Global Public Policy Institute, Berlin, as well as a PhD fellow in international law at the Heinrich Böll Foundation. Lagodinsky's areas of expertise include transatlantic relations, global security, and international law. He is a frequent guest and commentator on RTVi (a world wide Russian speaking TV network) as well as Radio Liberty.
Bildunterschrift: Tom Goeller - a German native - is the Berlin correspondent for the "Washington Times". After studying American History, he embarked on a career in journalism in 1986. Goeller worked for newspapers, such as "Die Welt", and the German public TV network ARD. He specialises in international relations, with a focus on the Middle East.
