Introduction
A recent article in the Wall Street Journal (December 27th 2017) presented an interesting international debate between Germany (together with some other NATO allies) and the U.S. as to whether to engage in dialogue with Russia about NATO-Russia issues. The debate pivots on whether talk with Russia will help or hinder the future defense and interests of the NATO alliance, given what many see as Russia’s aggressive stance towards Ukraine.
The article states that U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers recently that Washington didn’t want regular meetings with Russia “just to talk”. Instead, he said, that the U.S supports “a dialogue with results expected” (emphasis by this author).
Germany, on the other hand, says it remains open to dialogue and in fact recent meetings have allowed the two sides to openly exchange views on difficult and controversial issues.
This difference between the U.S. position and that of Germany, reflect two divergent views on the value of dialogue and talk for its own sake, even when tangible results may not necessarily be the outcome, or even the intent.
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A recent article in the Wall Street Journal (December 27th 2017) presented an interesting international debate between Germany (together with some other NATO allies) and the U.S. as to whether to engage in dialogue with Russia about NATO-Russia issues. The debate pivots on whether talk with Russia will help or hinder the future defense and interests of the NATO alliance, given what many see as Russia’s aggressive stance towards Ukraine.
The article states that U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers recently that Washington didn’t want regular meetings with Russia “just to talk”. Instead, he said, that the U.S supports “a dialogue with results expected” (emphasis by this author).
Germany, on the other hand, says it remains open to dialogue and in fact recent meetings have allowed the two sides to openly exchange views on difficult and controversial issues.
This difference between the U.S. position and that of Germany, reflect two divergent views on the value of dialogue and talk for its own sake, even when tangible results may not necessarily be the outcome, or even the intent.
Read more -->
