By "Vestnik Kavkaza"
The Russian Defense Ministry is discussing deploying troops on the territory of the Crimean Federal District. "The analysis of possible events makes it necessary to maintain the Southern Military District ready to ensure the military security of the country and its allies in the south-western strategic direction. In these circumstances, the formation of a comprehensive and self-sufficient army on the Crimean peninsula is necessary," Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said. "This is largely due to the situation in Ukraine, the spreading of anti-Russian sentiment by NATO and the increase of a foreign military presence in the immediate vicinity of our borders," Shoigu said.
The Caspian region remains one of the priorities for NATO. The editor-in-chief of the Scholarly Society of Caucasian Studies, an expert of the Strategic Culture Foundation, Andrey Areshev, told VK that "the North-Atlantic Alliance traditionally has had a significant interest in the Caspian region, associated with the energy-transit functions of the Caucasus and military logistics. In this context, certainly, contacts between NATO and Caspian countries on the west and east coasts are important. On the other hand, Baku is trying to lead a balanced policy, because they understand that too close ties with NATO might legitimately create issues in relations with neighboring countries - especially with Russia and Iran, who are against the expansion of NATO, including its expansion in the Caspian region. I think that NATO, the U.S. and other players will continue to fight for the sympathies of the Caspian countries. There will be pressure, including pressure on human rights and respect for democratic freedoms, as well as issues related to the foreign policy agenda of certain states."
As for Georgia, one of the central themes of the political debate in Tbilisi remains the question of NATO membership. The resignation of Defense Minister Irakli Alasania and Foreign Minister Maya Panjikidze, supporters of membership of the alliance, has added questions to the policy of the ruling cabinet of ministers of the Georgian Dream coalition. The ex-minister of State Security, Valery Khaburdzania, told VK that with the ministers' resignation Tbilisi's relations with NATO will become more complex: "Georgians gave a reason to NATO's bureaucratic leaders to postpone Georgia's accession to NATO. But Georgia will never become a member of NATO and officials who say that the doors are open, always set new conditions that Georgia has not accomplished yet and it all postpones the issue. They will now add another condition and say that the resignation of the Minister of Defence is not a good thing, it is not stable. But they will say the same thing with the next minister, define some imaginary terms for the indefinite future. This trend and the deception of the Georgian people will continue. Unfortunately, this is the aim of NATO officials."
