NATO's new Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg hinted the alliance is still seeking constructive relationship with Russia, despite strong disagreement on Ukraine. Change of NATO leadership raised hopes for a thaw in Russia-NATO relations as the former Norwegian premier is known for his good relations with President Putin.
Thomas Heine, observer of Danish Politiken daily and a prominent author in Copenhagen, Denmark, Alf Ole Ask, foreign news commentator and former Washington correspondent at Aftenposten, Norwegian leading newspaper, Oslo, Norway, and Dmitry Trenin, the Director at the Moscow Carnegie Center, shared their opinions with Radio VR.
There was a really strong criticism in the Russian media of the outgoing Secretary General Rasmussen for antagonizing the relations. Do you think that was a personal problem or harsh political realities?
Thomas Heine: I think it is a combination. I think in most, if not all, NATO capitals there is a growing apprehension of Russia’s intentions and might. Some are more anti-Russian, if you want, some are more pro-Russian, but there is a general apprehension. The tone of Anders Fogh Rasmussen has been much tougher than of any of his predecessors. And also, I think it’s been tougher than of the majority of the NATO countries, meaning that he’s been closer to the US than he’s been to Germany or France.
So, any significant achievements of Rasmussen and how has NATO changed under him, if that is at all the case?
Thomas Heine: I think the tone has changed. While he is called the Secretary General of NATO, he’s been more of a general than a secretary and he’s been more outspoken than any of his predecessors. The last two NATO summits have been seen by most NATO countries as the big successes in terms of strengthening NATO and make it more coherent. And I think that Anders Fogh Rasmussen has been given a fair share of the praise for that.
Then, at the same time, I think that there is obviously a number of Western government leaders who think that Anders Fogh Rasmussen has been too outspoken and has been too confrontational towards Russia. And some of these hope that Stoltenberg would be less confrontational and more business-like in his approach to Russia.
The editor of Aftenposten in the recent article said that the new Secretary General is more of a secretary rather than a general. Why do you think the editor said this?
Alf Ole Ask: I think Mr. Stoltenberg is less kind of a guy who makes all this confrontation. Fogh Rasmussen had been more outspoken and more a hawk than Mr. Stoltenberg is.
Some are saying that the Secretary General decides nothing, others argue that the style is also important. Where are you in this dispute?
Alf Ole Ask: I think that style is important. Style doesn’t make the political problems between the West and Russia going away, but I think that it could make it easier to speak. And if you look at the first press conference that Mr. Stoltenberg had in Brussels the other day, he had a different approach. This is a man who comes from a country with a common border with Russia. And we had a common border with the Soviet Union. And despite all the problems during the Cold War, it was always kind of a cooperation in the high north between Norway and the former Soviet Union, and now with Russia.
What changes are expected in NATO?
Alf Ole Ask: I don’t think you can expect very much political changes. I think that the 28 countries have agreed and the politics from NATO will be there. But I think he will have, as I said, a different approach. But it is not the Secretary General himself, who makes the politics, that is the 28 member countries. And it is the US that’s been really the force that drove NATO. So, I don’t think you will see any big changes in politics, but you will see a change in approach.
You personally know both of the secretary generals, how different these two men are and how these differences might affect the course of NATO in the future?
Dmitry Trenin: First of all, I can’t say I know them. I met them and spent some time with them. I think that it is important to understand that both men come from a very much the same tradition of modern Scandinavian body politics. And whatever differences there are, and of course there are between the two different people, they are politically less important than what is in common between the two.
I would say that both have a very important experience behind their shoulders, having been the prime ministers of their countries for extended period of time. And in that sense they would be very similar in being the politicians, not just top level bureaucrats. We would recall that in the past the NATO secretary generals were often drawn from the heads of diplomatic services, heads of foreign ministries. And there is clearly a difference between the prime minister and a member of the cabinet.
But having said all that, I would say that the real difference is not so much between the two people, the real difference is between the time when Anders Fogh Rasmussen became the Secretary General and the time when Jens Stoltenberg has come to replace Rasmussen. In the days of Rasmussen the relationship between Russia and NATO was on the upturn and Rasmussen came into office with a clear determination to improve the relationship even further. And he was very enthusiastic about that in his first could of years.
Then, this upturn, having reached a certain level, stagnated and later the situation began to deteriorate, and led to the Ukrainian crisis.Stoltenberg has come to lead NATO at the time of very-very negative relations with Russia and his job will be to make sure that a modicum of security is provided on the European continent. He will have to reach out to Russia, but in a totally different manner from Rasmussen. It is not so much about partnership, it is more about rebuilding basic elements of trust and ensuring physical security for Europe.
