CIAO DATE: 08/2009
January 2009
The Geneva Centre for Security Policy
At the 2008 Gstaad Process conference, the discussion of securityrelated issues central to West-Russia relations focused on four broadly defined areas: global security, energy security, missile defence, and nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. Global Security A majority of participants agreed that we are at a turning point in post- Cold War history and are experiencing a paradigm shift in West-Russia relations. An indication of this shift took place in Munich in February 2007, where President Putin announced that Russia would pursue an “independent foreign policy.” From a Russian perspective, the speech was a reminder to the West that relations can only be built on the basis of mutual respect and strict reciprocity. From a US perspective, President Putin’s speech indicated that Russia once again views the world through a balance of power lens.
Resource link: The Gstaad Process: The West's Relations with Russia: Towards a Cold Peace? [PDF] - 383K