Other senior U.S. security officials say the alliance’s proven track record needs no further explanation or interpretation.
“I don’t apologize for all the actions NATO has taken over the years,” Rose Gottemoeller, the U.S. undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, said during a meeting with reporters this month. “It’s been very important that the goal of the NATO alliance at the highest level is international stability, peace and security. We welcome partnership with countries across the world in the NATO alliance who have been very active over the years in trying to develop a partnership with Russia in our regard.”
The main channel of dialogue, known as the NATO-Russia Council, has been an “important phenomenon” she would like to see continue. (The council was formally suspended in April, in line with NATO’s decision to cut diplomatic ties with Russia until it reverses its actions in Ukraine.)
When asked if NATO could do more to put Russia’s fears to rest, or whether the Eastern Bear simply needs to get with the program, Gottemoeller responded, “It’s always a cooperative process when you have discourse between NATO and any other country, whichever country it might be.”
“But,” she added, “there has to be willingness to cooperate on both sides.”
Putin’s bold talk hints cooperation is still a work in progress.
“We will choke them all,” he told the Russian people in April, when asked about NATO expansion. “What are you afraid of?”
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