NATO-Russia relations

Last updated: 07 Nov. 2016 16:10

For more than 30 years, NATO tried to build a partnership with Russia, developing dialogue and practical cooperation in areas of common interest. Despite this, Russia has continuously violated the norms and principles that contributed to a stable and predictable European security order, particularly over the past decade. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has shattered peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area and gravely undermined global security. In light of its hostile policies and actions, NATO can no longer consider Russia to be a partner. The Russian Federation is the most significant and direct threat to Allies’ security. However, NATO remains willing to maintain channels of communication with Moscow to mitigate risks and prevent escalation. NATO does not seek confrontation and poses no threat to Russia. The Alliance will continue to respond to Russian threats and hostile actions in a united and responsible way.

NATO Secretary General expresses solidarity with Turkey following Russian air space violation

05 Oct. 2015

I just met with the Foreign Minister of Turkey Feridun Sinirlioğlu to discuss the recent military actions of the Russian Federation in and around Syria. Including the unacceptable violations of Turkish airspace by Russian combat aircraft.

NATO Secretary General meets world leaders in New York

29 Sep. 2015

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg held talks with several world leaders in New York in the margins of the opening of the United Nations General Assembly.

NATO Secretary General meets Russian Foreign Minister

19 May. 2015

The NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov at the Palais d'Egmont in Brussels on Tuesday (19 May 2015). The Secretary General restated NATO's position on Russia's illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea and its continued destabilisation of eastern Ukraine. He urged all parties to implement the Minsk agreements in full, and called on Russia to withdraw its troops and support for the separatists in eastern Ukraine. Stressing the importance of transparency and predictability related to military activities, Mr Stoltenberg voiced concern about the large number of snap exercises conducted by Russia. The Secretary General made clear that NATO's policy remains unchanged. As a result of Russia's aggressive actions in Ukraine, NATO decided in April 2014 to suspend all practical cooperation with Russia, while keeping open political channels of communications.

Video

- NATO Secretary General's press conference at NATO Summit 24 Mar. 2022
- NATO Secretary General's press conference at NATO Summit in Madrid 29 Jun. 2022
- Stop the lies, stop the war: Russia's invasion of Ukraine 21 Mar. 2022
- NATO Secretary General press conference at extraordinary virtual NATO Summit 25 Feb. 2022
- NATO Secretary General following extraordinary meeting of the North Atlantic Council 24 Feb. 2022
- NATO Secretary General following the meeting of the NATO-Russia Council, 25 JAN 2019 25 Jan. 2019
- NATO Secretary General following meeting of NATO-Russia Council, 26 OCT 2017 26 Oct. 2017
- Russia and Switzerland Observe NATO Exercises 05 Nov. 2015
- Russian Observers Visit NATO Trident Juncture Exercise 28 Oct. 2015
- NATO Secretary General on violations of Turkish airspace by Russian combat aircraft 05 Oct. 2015
- NATO-Russian Federation: Suicide bomber alert 07 Dec. 2011
- Keeping The Spirit Of Lisbon 05 Jul. 2011
- NATO and Russian jets fight terrorism in the skies 17 Oct. 2013
- NATO and Russia - Together Against Terrorism 29 Mar. 2012
- Statement on the Moscow airport terrorist attack 24 Jan. 2011
- Airspace security: united we stand 08 Nov. 2010
- Fighting Terrorism together 15 Apr. 2011
- NATO-Russian Federation: Suicide bomber alert 07 Dec. 2011
- Expanding Cooperation 28 Jan. 2011
- NATO and Russia: Why Cooperation Counts 12 May. 2011
- NATO-Russia Tackle Drug Smuggling 17 Dec. 2010
- NATO releases satellite imagery showing Russian combat troops inside Ukraine 28 Aug. 2014
- NATO Secretary General - Doorstep statement to the media - 2 March 2014 02 Mar. 2014
- NATO and Russia - Time to engage 01 Feb. 2014

Official Texts

NATO and the INF Treaty

NATO-Russia Council (NRC)

PDF Library

Factsheet - NATO-Russia relations (February 2022)

Fiche d’information - Les relations OTAN-Russie (février 2022)

Информационный бюллетень - Отношения между НАТО и Россией (February 2022)

Бюлетень - Відносини НАТО – Росія (February 2022)

Factsheet - Russia's top five myths about NATO (October 2021)

Media Backgrounder - NATO-Russia Relations: The Background (March 2020)

Fiche d’information - Les relations OTAN-Russie : Rétrospective (mars 2020)

RUSSIAN: Справочная информация для СМИ - Отношения между НАТО и Россией: справочная информация (Март 2020 г.)

UKRAINIAN: Довідка для ЗМІ - Відносини НАТО – Росія: передісторія (Березень 2020)

Opinions

- Russia’s hybrid war against the West 26 Apr. 2024 Wars are no longer merely about kinetic operations. This means that it is not just physical warfare, but also non-military strategies and tactics that define modern-day conflicts and wars.
- The consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for international security 07 Jul. 2022 February 24, 2022, is likely to engrave itself on the history template of the contemporary world. Russia’s unprovoked, unjustified and barbaric invasion of Ukraine is not only a manifestation of a huge security danger that has shattered peace in Europe. More structurally, it has broken the entire security architecture, built patiently on the continent over many decades, including international commitments agreed in the last 30 years. In short: almost every single agreement and principle of international law has fallen victim to the aggression ordered by Putin.
- Inside-out: what changing Russian domestic politics mean for NATO 12 Nov. 2021 Russia’s decision to suspend the activities of its delegation to NATO and shutter the Alliance’s offices in Moscow seems to represent a sharp worsening in relations with the West. However, digging beneath the surface, such moves often have less to do with global than domestic politics, or are, at least, the reflection of a series of processes taking place within Russia and the concerns of an ageing leadership whose priority is retaining power at home.
- VOSTOK 2018: Ten years of Russian strategic exercises and warfare preparation 20 Dec. 2018 To better understand the implications for NATO Allies of all of Russia’s strategic exercises, including large-scale snap exercises, they need to be seen in their full context, explains Dave Johnson of NATO’s International Staff. The views expressed are his own.
- Understanding VOSTOK 2018 20 Dec. 2018 All of Russia’s strategic exercises need to be seen in their full context.
- Zapad 2017 and Euro-Atlantic security 14 Dec. 2017 The increasing size and complexity of Russia’s annual strategic and snap exercises, in particular the Western-oriented ZAPAD series, underscores the need for Allies to ensure full and timely implementation of the strengthened deterrence and defence measures.
- A personal take on NATO-Russia relations 13 Jun. 2017 Fifteen years after the NATO-Russia Council was established, Radoslava Stefanova, Head of NATO’s Russia and Ukraine Relations Section, looks back in disappointment at how the high hopes for the NATO-Russia partnership have been dashed.
- Russian intelligence is at (political) war 12 May. 2017 It would be a mistake to see the Russian security and intelligence services as analogues of those of the West. Mark Galeotti, a senior researcher at the Institute of International Relations Prague stresses that ''in terms of their missions, interactions and mindsets, they are on a wartime footing.''
- 50 years ago: The origins of NATO concerns about the threat of Russian strategic nuclear submarines 24 Mar. 2017 Colonel Gjert Lage Dyndal of NATO’s Strategic Analysis Capability team looks back in history to the emergence of the Russian ‘Bastion’ concept as it relates to the nuclear deterrent.
- Ukraine three years on: a basis for optimism 10 Mar. 2017 Three years after the appearance of ‘little green men’ – a prelude to Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and its so-called hybrid war in the Donbas – James Sherr of Chatham House looks at the issues at stake and the challenges ahead.
- Does Russia have the financial means for its military ambitions? 21 Oct. 2016 Sanctions and low oil prices have so far not impacted Russia’s ambitious defence procurement plans.
- The "Lisa case": Germany as a target of Russian disinformation 01 Aug. 2016 Earlier this year, Russia’s blatant efforts to manipulate German public opinion served as a wake up call for German political elites.
- Escape from Crimea: the Tatar 13 Mar. 2015 Russia promised to protect Crimea’s Tatars when it annexed the peninsula. We hear from a refugee who fled to Kiev who says the opposite is happening.
- How Putin uses missile defence in Europe to distract Russian voters 29 Jan. 2015 What’s the link between NATO’s ballistic missile defence system and Russian voters? Bilyana Lilly finds out.
- How information war can kill 18 Dec. 2014 The information war which has broken out over Russia’s actions in Ukraine has largely been seen as two sides projecting differing opinions. But the way information is controlled, twisted and spread can have serious effects. We look at how information affected the lives of thousands – possibly millions – of people when it was manipulated following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.
- Ukraine: what it hopes to leave behind 01 Dec. 2014 Ukraine is facing change. It is hoping to look forward to less interference, corruption and conflict. Here are some images of what the country hopes to leave behind.
- Honesty or bust 01 Dec. 2014 Ukraine is changing by the day. NATO Review looks at some of the things the country hopes to leave behind.
- Why perception is different to reality 14 Nov. 2014 In this edition of NATO Review, we look at the difference between perception and reality. Whether the perception of Russia’s President Putin as a master strategist matches the reality on the ground. In my interview with Ukrainian expert Alexander Motyl, it becomes apparent that Putin has probably lost control of the situation he helped create. Motyl sets out three areas where Putin is actually in a weaker position in Ukraine than he was at the start of the year.
- Three ways that Putin's Ukraine strategy has backfired 06 Nov. 2014 Russia had a key ally running Ukraine in President Yanukovych at the beginning of this year. The country was weakened by its ingrained corruption. And Ukrainian armed forces did most of their work in far off peacekeeping missions. President Putin’s actions have changed all this. And not in his favour.
- Russia, Ukraine and Crimea: a predictable crisis? 03 Jul. 2014 How much could we have seen the Crimea crisis coming? NATO Review talks to security experts and asks whether there were enough clues in Russia's previous adventures - especially in Estonia and Georgia - to indicate that Crimea would be next.
- NATO enlargement and Russia: myths and realities 03 Jul. 2014 Part of the Russian narrative of the past 20 years is that the West reneged on promises not to enlarge NATO membership up to Russia's borders. But this is not a pledge included in any official treaties or agreements. So where did the story come from? Michael Rühle takes on the myths and realities of the Russian narrative.
- Ukraine and Russia: the perceptions and the reality 03 Jul. 2014 In this edition, we try to look at how much misunderstandings (real or deliberate) played in the Ukraine crisis. For example, how much does Russia’s belief that the West had betrayed them over NATO enlargement really explain their actions in Ukraine? And where did this misunderstanding come from?
- Changing international borders in Ukraine: Crimea – Russia’s bold move 02 Sep. 2014 What's the difference between an annexation, a unification and an international border change? A lot, argues Dr Magnus Bjarnason. In this article, he illustrates how moves to change the map - such as in Russia's annexation of Crimea - have been carried out over recent decades. And he provides an analysis of the risks and rewards that these moves carry.
- Ukraine-Russia conflict: has globalisation helped or hindered responses? 02 Sep. 2014 Countries have increased their links in a smaller, globalised world. But reactions to Russia's actions in Ukraine mean that a brake has to be put on some of this interlinking. Has globalisation made it easier or more difficult to react? Has it made it impossible to punish Russia without suffering pain at home? And where next for the sanctions and counter-sanctions?
- Ukraine and Russia: the perceptions and the reality (2) 02 Sep. 2014 Since our last edition on Ukraine and Russia, we've seen increased incursions by Russia, more sanctions by the West and heightened scepticism of President Putin's proclamations. So where has this split between the West and Russia left the process of galloping globalisation? And have the resulting splits spread to relations between allied Western countries? In this edition, NATO Review looks at the global side of a regional conflict in Ukraine.
- KGB, torture and Soviet terror: why Latvia worries about today’s Russia 09 Oct. 2014 In this moving video, NATO Review looks inside the KGB prison where Latvians were locked up, tortured or killed. We hear how today's leading Latvians were affected by Soviet occupation. And we ask if they see echoes in today's Russian aggression.
- The reasons the Baltics still fear Russia 09 Oct. 2014 In this edition, we have spoken to some of those who championed freedom while their home countries laboured under Cold War Soviet occupation. People who fled their countries in fear of their lives. People who were deported because of their families’ views. People who had members of their families die because of the occupation.In edition, we have spoken to some of those who championed freedom while their home Cold War Soviet occupation. People who fled their countries in fear of their lives. People who were deported because of their families’ views. People who had members of their families die because of the occupation.
- Afghanistan post-2014: what's Russia's view? 28 Feb. 2014 Russia's interest in what happens in Afghanistan and Central Asia is well known. What isn't is how they see their involvement in the region after 2014, after the ISAF operation in Afghanistan ends. NATO Review asks what the Russian approach will be and what issues are of most interest to them.
- NATO and Russia: uneasy partners 28 Feb. 2014 Officially, NATO and Russia don't see each other as enemies. In practice, they actually collaborate in several areas. So why the bad mood music between the two?
- NATO-Russia: the relationship in pictures 28 Feb. 2014 This photostory has a few familiar - but also a few surprising - pictures outlining NATO and Russia's recent relationship. It aims to highlight some of the areas which have been challenging, including Ukraine and Syria. But it also illustrates some areas where, quietly and progressively, NATO and Russia are still working together in some key areas.
- Missile defence: mutually assured distrust? 28 Feb. 2014 Russia's interest in what happens in Afghanistan and Central Asia is well known. What isn't is how they see their involvement in the region after 2014, after the ISAF operation in Afghanistan ends. NATO Review asks what the Russian approach will be and what issues are of most interest to them.
- NATO-Russia: re-reset? 09 Aug. 2013 Forget the headlines showing tension between NATO countries and Russia, says Konstatin von Eggert. It's the low profile cooperation taking place regularly between the two that will help build a foundation for better long term relations, he argues.
- NATO-Russia relations: 20 years after the USSR 01 Aug. 2011 NATO and Russia cooperate on Afghanistan, counter-terrorism, search and rescue and a host of other areas. So where's the problem? In this edition, we look from both angles at what's gone right - and not so right - in the NATO-Russia relationship. And how this may soon have to change.
- NATO and Russia today: interview with Dmitri Trenin 01 Aug. 2011 Dmitri Trenin, Director of the Carnegie Moscow Center, looks at where the NATO-Russia relations are today
- Taking the temperature: what the Russian experts think 30 Jun. 2011 How do Russian experts see NATO's evolving relationship with NATO in areas such as missile defence, Afghanistan and other security issues? Here, we present the results of a survey of Russian experts by the independent Atlantic Initiative.
- NATO and Russia: doomed to disappointment? 11 Jul. 2011 James Sherr of Chatham House argues that different understanding on either side of the NATO-Russia relationship keep leading to unwanted outcomes. And until each side accepts the other's understanding of what security means, he believes this will be a recurrent theme.
- Russia and NATO: time to abandon illusions 30 Jun. 2011 Today is the moment for Russia and NATO to end seeing each other through the Cold War prism, argues Fyodor Lukyanov. Twenty first century challenges requires both sides to challenge of their 20th century hangovers.
- One step forward... 30 Jun. 2011 Konstatin Eggert was the Editor in Chief of BBC's Moscow office for over 10 years. Here, he argues that the relationship between Russia and NATO will forever be defined by encouraging steps forward hampered by regular setbacks. But soon, other regional factors may become even more important.
- How NATO is perceived in Russia (or lessons in optimism) 30 Jun. 2011 Robert Pszczel is NATO's face in Russia. The head of NATO's Moscow office, he now both talks about - and listens to opinions on - NATO's evolving partnership with Russia. Here he explains some of the feedback - and why it's positive to be an optimist.

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