Russia's energy weapon as a tool against the expansion of NATO to the East

Abstract

After the Soviet collapse, the US-led NATO actions, in Eastern Europe and Central Asia has led to confrontation between Russia and the West in the region. Russia considers these actions a threat to its national security, reducing its power and influence and restrict its economic relations with its buffer zones. Moscow adopting policies such as anti-missile defense shield in Eastern Europe, leaving the CFE Treaty, creation of the CSTO and the use of energy as a practical weapon has withstand against the West. The country is the main supplier of the natural gas required for Europe and Eurasia, and is trying to run away the NATO from its red lines, use the it advantage to threat the newly independent republics of Europe Union by gas cut off and energy sanctions. The use of energy as a threatening tool by Russia has become a procedure to carry out its policies, which leads to a mistrust against the Russia and the countries are turning to other suppliers of the natural gas. Given the fact that the sale of energy is the main revenues of Russia, it seems, this threat will put Russia's into economic and political damage. The above mentioned topics, is the subject of this research.