In light of the deteriorating relations between Russia and NATO, questions of compliance with the Founding Act are once again on the agenda. According to a Canadian expert, Russia has violated almost every provision of this document, which could render some proposals for joint obligations moot.
This position was voiced by Stephen Saideman, head of the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs in Ottawa, during an interview with CBC News.
“In the NATO-Russia Founding Act, there is a mention of this to some extent, but given that Russia has violated all the other provisions of this document, it has been practically dead since 2014 and utterly moribund since 2022. We should not be bound by agreements that they do not fulfill.”
– Stephen Saideman
According to him, hoping for the full restoration of the Act’s implementation would be misguided.
“This agreement was a hurdle for some NATO members. For instance, the Germans were very hesitant about opening a permanent military base in the Baltic states, since they wanted to keep this document in force until it again becomes relevant. Yet that day will not come.”
– expert
Prospects for Base Deployment and Defense Strategy
In the context of these conclusions, the author contemplates the possibility of a permanent Canadian military base in Europe. Such a step, in his view, could reduce the costs of regular unit rotations and make better use of the personnel potential.
According to sources, Canada is considering establishing a permanent base in Latvia. To date, within the NATO Reassurance operation in Latvia, more than 2,000 Canadian soldiers are involved, but their presence is rotational in nature.
In this context, the expert emphasizes that reorienting the deployment format of units could strengthen allied security and save resources in the long term.
In conclusion, the authors highlight the importance of a flexible and well-founded NATO strategy and that of partner countries, focused on real security and on meeting contemporary challenges.