- NDC Research Report: “A NATO transit hub in Ulyanovsk – What’s behind the Russian debate?”, by Heidi Reisinger.
The Russian government has attracted a lot of domestic criticism over its plan to allow the setting up of a NATO transit centre, for the movement of military personnel and “non-lethal” cargo to and from Afghanistan, in the central Russian city of Ulyanovsk. Be it among pro-Kremlin groups or the Communist opposition, the fear of “creeping occupation” is spreading. After so many years of anti-Western propaganda, who should be surprised that many Russians are not comfortable with this move? In a sense Russian politicians are now being hoist with their own petard. It is not easy to explain to the Russian public why all of a sudden NATO should now be considered as a partner, and the onus is thus on the Russian government to explain why the Alliance’s engagement in Afghanistan is in Russia’s core interest.
This new research report by the NDC Research Division considers that the creation of a NATO transit hub in central Russia would be beneficial to both sides and afford an albeit small opportunity to overcome the gridlock in NATO-Russia relations. The paper analyses the wave of criticism and protests in Russia, and examines the reasons why Russia’s good will is not a “betrayal of the Fatherland” but actually serves Russian national interests.
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