The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension and ideological confrontation that developed after World War II (1947-1991). In general terms, it divided two blocs, the Western one, led by the United States, and the communist Eastern one, led by the Soviet Union.
The United States and Russia: vestiges of the Cold War in the Baltic
El breakup and disintegration of the Soviet Union and consequent end of the Cold War gave rise to the independence of several of the former Soviet socialist republics protected by both the United States and the European Union -European Economic Community at that time-, giving rise to a complex relationship between the West and the Russian Federation.
This has finally derivative in the NATO intervention in the Baltic States and a retreat towards a language typical of the Cold War that has led to today talking about the vestiges of the Cold War.
Therefore, it is necessary to attend to the contextualization of the most important conflict of recent decades to later analyze the current situation. Shall we start?
Cold War context
La completion of the Second World War marks the high point of the expectations of the communism in the system. The samples of strength of the Soviet Union, its hegemonic and expansive aspirations, along with the abandonment of colonial control by the exhausted European powers in both Asia and Africa, gave rise to the progressive consolidation of the power of communist parties throughout international society.
Thus, between 1945 and 1947 the Cold War begins, state of permanent war tension between the two superpowers facing each other politically, economically, socially, militarily, informatively and scientifically after the end of the Second World War (United States and USSR), that spread between the two blocks formed around the leadership of these. (Kissinger, 1995)
It was a non-war confrontation in a Bipolar and flexible system whose international structure revolved around two axes: East-west, political-ideological in nature; and, North-South, of an economic-social nature, where alongside the superpowers and their respective blocs are non-aligned actors and the UN, which tries, unsuccessfully, to be neutral.
Santos Carrillo, 2016
Distinguishing governance from actors for the objective of expanding their radius of influence, and mutual respect for the rival superpower so as not to increase tension with the risk of war.
Universal Socialist System
Thus, the Soviet foreign policy claim was creation of a universal socialist system to face the imperialist and militarist aggressions of the Western bloc, which was led by the United States through the NATO military alliance.
Therefore, one of their strategies was to establish a security perimeter around it and its allies that guaranteed the spread of communism. However, It wasn't like that.
After more than 30 years of conflict between the powers that represented the bipolar system mentioned above at that time, the economic collapse, political and social of the USSR led to the end of the Cold War.
The Soviet republics that yearned for independence achieved it, and as a safeguard of their sovereignty they strengthened ties with Europe. and even the NATO.
Some of them, like Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania they got join both organizations, causing enormous discomfort in the Russian giant, which saw the territory that it still considered its own violated.
Therefore, as a response and in order to regain its status quo in the international system decided to participate and promote both the Georgia conflict such as the annexation of the Crimean peninsula.
Events that gave rise to a new confrontation between Europe and the United States, which participated moderately - and not enough - in the conflict, and the Russian Federation. Attitude full of reminiscences of the Cold War by both blocks.
Reminiscences of the Cold War
United States and the European Union, despite totally disapproving attitude of the russian giant do not properly participate in the conflict, safeguarding the sovereignty of said States, so as not to lead to a larger war conflict that would once again involve a total destabilization of the international system and the direct confrontation between two blocks; in addition to, of course, economic interests. While Russia acts in order to expand its zone of influence.
That is, just as in the Cold War, and despite the current multipolar system, international society is polarized into two entities, with opposing interests and a totally different system, which are respected to safeguard the integrity of their respective territory.
However, it is with the NATO presence in the Baltic States when the above is fully exemplified.
The Alliance, led by the United States, in order to safeguard the interests of its European member states (Western bloc), is positioned at a strategic point, preventing the expansion of a Russia that, if not for the non-existence of communism, it could be identified as the Soviet Union, due to its hegemonic and expansive aspirations.
Geopolitical change
However, although Yes, we are talking about reminiscences of the Cold War, and even, vestiges, the factor that characterized this confrontation does not exist today..
El communism, the ideological, economic, political and social doctrine advocated by the USSR and all its allied countries -China, Cambodia or Cuba-, is not a defining factor in this conflict between NATO and the EU, and present-day Russia.
Therefore, instead of a retreat towards the division of the System by the Iron Curtain, we may be in the first episode of a profound geopolitical change at the doors of the European Union.
Originated by a Russia with a declining economy, aware that the energy tool's days are numbered and that it needs to overcome the impediments that prevent it from projecting its power.
LL.M in International Business Law and Law from ISDE and graduated in Law and International Relations from Loyola University. CEO and business internationalization consultant at Reáculoateypunto.
