The European security architecture and the North Atlantic Alliance as its key pillar are facing a stern test. Today’s Russian Federation under the leadership of President Putin is a revisionist power seeking to change international order.
In Europe its ultimate aim is to extend its influence and control westward and to re-define the post-Cold War security architecture. Russia may objectively be a declining power but it is asserting itself in an increasingly confident manner and working on exploiting Western weaknesses. War with Georgia in 2008, annexation of Crimea and invasion of eastern parts of Ukraine in 2014, involvement in Syrian conflict in direct opposition to Western interests – these are only the most open and blatant examples of Russia’s actions.
More information: NATO Defence College