Starting the Process of Trust-Building in NATO–Russia Relations: The Arms Control Dimension
Starting the Process of Trust-Building in NATO–Russia Relations: The Arms Control Dimension

Author(s): Jacek Durkalec, Ian Kearns, Łukasz Kulesa
Contributor(s): Anthony Casey (Editor), Dorota Dołęgowska (Editor)
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Governance, International relations/trade, Security and defense, Military policy, Geopolitics
Published by: PISM Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych
Keywords: Trust-building; NATO; Russian Federation; security policy; military policy; international relations; NATO-Russian relations; arms control;
Summary/Abstract: The security climate in Europe has chilled considerably. While we are far from a threat of a military confrontation, worst-case assumptions are frequently being made about the intentions of “the other.” A fundamental change of the climate of the relationship is possible if the West and Russia work together to increase mutual trust in the military field. Trust-building in the anarchic international environment is inherently difficult, but three approaches stand out: graduated reciprocation (a sequence of limited conciliatory steps), costly signals (bold concessions aimed at showing trustworthiness), and reliance on inter-personal dynamics, especially contacts between leaders. In the NATO–Russia context, only a combination of these three approaches aimed at reaching specific, realistically selected arms control aims can bring about notable progress. Mutual restraint and increased transparency should be the guiding principles.

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