Russia and NATO toward the twenty‐first century: conflicts and peacekeeping in Bosnia‐Herzegovina and Kosovo

Abstract

The new Russian‐NATO relationship plunged to the lowest point during NATO's 78‐day Kosovo air campaign in Spring 1999. Despite the difficulties at the political level, the analysis suggests that Russia's participation in joint peacekeeping with US/NATO forces in Bosnia‐Herzegovina (IFOR/SFOR) and Kosovo (KFOR) stand as perhaps the most encouraging aspect of the contemporary Russian‐NATO relationship. These successes in peacekeeping tended to be overshadowed by the serious strains between Russia and NATO in developing a response to the implosion of Yugoslavia. While such practical cooperation between Russia and NATO can contribute to eroding the barriers of the past and to the development of a constructive relationship for the twenty‐first century, these military‐to‐military accomplishments cannot shape broader Russian‐NATO strategic priorities. The article concludes with examination of Moscow's postmortem assessments on Kosovo and evaluation of prospects for the future of the Russian‐NATO relationship in the aftermath of the Yugoslav experience.