Registered: Nov 2001
Location: St.louis MO.
Posts: 245

Sp00ky? Do you think its possible for Russia to join NATO in say 10 years?

I feel that geopolitics will shift drastically soon. Who will be friends of the west, and who will be likely enemies? I would like your opinion of Russia especially.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 7236

Depends on which Tom Clancy book you read But seriously, I think that Russia Federation will join the EU and NATO in about ten years or so. Russia has always had a dodgy relationship with China and joining NATO and the EU will provide it with the necessary defence capabilities for that border, and other borders.

I think the big thing to remeber is that of the Federation though. The reason that the Soviet Union fell apart (and contrary to popular belief about America's role) was due to the balkanisation of the Baltic states, and the need for self-determination by those states. I think that the Federation may experience further balkanisation on this matter in the furture, similar to Chechnya, so the actual size of the Federation will be greatly reduced to what it is today. I don't think, in its current size and form it could join either the EU or NATO, but lots of separate states could and probably will.

edit: on reflection I think ten years is a little short. Make that 30. The expansion programme of the EU has been in process now for well over 10 years, and Turkey still hav'nt been able to come up to the requirements of memebership of Europe, much to their own annoyance.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Essex, England
Posts: 4523

Turkey has a lot of problems though and in my opinion is barely European anyway.
I would welcome Russia and other Eastern European nations into the EU.

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Registered: Jul 2000
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quote:

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Originally posted by Rav
Turkey has a lot of problems though and in my opinion is barely European anyway.

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Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Baton Rouge
Posts: 1579

I don't think Russia will ever get into the EU - they're working on building a nation there... the Dutch President is floating around a Constitution of some sort, hopefully to get it approved by 2004. Russia is just too big and too far removed, geographically. Plus, the EU is meant to give these relatively smaller nations more say in the affairs of the world. It would be counterproductive for them to sign Russia one. Then they'd just be following a different big nation around. And last, if Russia ever gets its shit together, they can be a powerhouse nation... why be contrained by European squabbling?

Now NATO... that's entirely different. I could see Russia getting in sometime in the next 10 or 20 years... if NATO is still around.

Leakynips.

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Registered: Jul 2000
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quote:

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Originally posted by greenleakynipples
Plus, the EU is meant to give these relatively smaller nations more say in the affairs of the world.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Essex, England
Posts: 4523

quote:

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Originally posted by Spooky



You know, its funny how most euro-sceptics are very pro-expansion. You are a euro-sceptic right?

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Registered: Jul 2000
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quote:

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Originally posted by Rav
I don't think we should give up our sovereignty.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Essex, England
Posts: 4523

quote:

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Originally posted by Spooky


So how do you feel about the fact that the largest piece of sovereignty EVER given away was by the eurosceptic Queen herself Mrs T?

She was pressured into it...and everybody makes mistakes
Seriously, I'm in two minds about how far into Europe we should go.


edit: also if you beleive in free dtrade, then surely having a single currency would enhance that no? multiple currencie hinder free trade.

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I'm not totally opposed to a single currency - I'm just nostalgic about the pound

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Registered: Jul 2000
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quote:

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She was pressured into it...

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