20. Anniversary : The NATO eastward enlargement has made Europe more peaceful and stable

Actually, it would be this week, really something to celebrate: 20 years Ago, Europe was peaceful and stable. With the inclusion of Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary into Nato. In mid-March 1999, the new security architecture after the fall of the wall shape. Five years later, in 2004, joined seven other countries in the Alliance and the EU to the East, followed. The big winners of the Central Europeans, who had listened to against their will by the Soviet bloc and, finally, their right to self – determination could exercise-and the Federal Republic of Germany. Now only the decades in which it was the Eastern front the state of the Alliance (and the GDR from the Western front state of the Warsaw Pact) were over. Since Germany is surrounded by allies, for the first time in centuries.

Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary, to celebrate this happy turn of their history. The Germans ignore the anniversary. This is not a Good omen about the state of mind of the Power in the heart of Europe. In the security policy a worrying lack of orientation. You want to spend on "strategic autonomy" of the United States, but not the necessary money, so that Europe can defend itself. You find it normal that Western allies risk their lives to defend the Germans, would not assure the same sort of solidarity, but the allies in the East.

This is reminiscent of the new dissatisfaction with the "Agenda 2010". Basically all know that Red-Green the Basis for the long upswing, and that Germany came out, thanks to the Reform of the cold is due to the financial crisis. Want to complain a lot anyway.

One objection to the interpretation of the Nato-Opening as the Basis of the new order of peace for Europe is clear: the ongoing conflict with Russia. But they show that the expansion in retrospect was a mistake? What would have been the Alternative? Without the anchoring in Nato and the EU, the countries between Germany and Russia without a firm Grip would promote a "Europe". That would have dangers for, the evidence of the story.

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legends of the alleged promise to Gorbachev

The former state of men in Russia saw the. For Mikhail Gorbachev in the Nato federated Germany was less of a risk than an unbound Germany. He also agreed in 1990 in the Charter of Paris, to the principle that each country has the right to freedom of Alliance choice. It is a legend, if, today, some claim that Western politicians had promised Russia that Nato will never expands to the East; they had become her word for it; this is the reason for Moscow's aggressive behavior.

A glance at the map of conflicts in Europe proves the opposite: Where the Nato is, there is peace; where it is missing, is threatening war. Georgia and the Ukraine she has given in 2008, no prospect of accession; Russian occupation are troops. The new Nato countries from the Baltic to Bulgaria, however, are security politically stable. Moscow's peace-breaking behavior is not the product of Western mistake. There are Russian decisions.

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Western defense Alliance, Germany is the Problem of Nato is not Trumps USA

Christoph von Marschall

The European Parliament has decided by a large majority, to consider Russia as a Partner and to cooperate only selectively. Also, since the Germans harder. Only: What is evidence that your judgment is safer than most other Europeans?