Russian president-elect calls NATO a Cold War atavism in utter disrespect for the West
MOSCOW, Russia — Vladimir Putin, the President-elect, who concurrently is also the nation’s prime minister, has sent its first clear geopolitical signal to the West as an indicator of what major western powers should expect in their diplomatic relationship with Moscow after his Kremlin inauguration in May.
The prime minister, presenting a report on progress and achievements of the government over the four years of his premiership, Putin unequivocally called NATO an atavism of the Cold War whilst fielding a question about the rumors of a possible deployment of the North Atlantic military alliance’s base in Russia.
"I have always believed that NATO is a Cold War atavism. It was set up at a time, when there was a bipolar system in international relations. Today, that situation has changed, therefore, it is hard to understand or justify why an organization such as NATO should be existing today,” he said. “But it is, and this is a geopolitical reality.”
Stamping such a derogatory label on NATO in particular, and the general negative tone of characterizing the West’s transatlantic military pet project, in general, should serve as a wake-up call for the NATO leadership in Washington and Brussels.
This is because in a sharp contrast to the outgoing president, Dmitry Medvedev, known for its "softer" character, the more experienced Putin, known for his outspoken remarks, firmness in defending his views and uncompromising in the protection of both national and geopolitical interests of Russia is now en-route to the Kremlin.
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