The USA and NATO were too slow to react to Russia’s aggressive behaviour in the world – former US Secretary of Defence

The United States and NATO members were too slow to react to Russia’s aggressive behaviour in the world, said 22nd United States Secretary of Defence (2006-2011), CIA Director (1991-1993) Robert Gates at the 13th Yalta European Strategy Annual Meeting (YES).

"We have acceded to the first part of the strategy of Russia as a great power, in the case of Syria because we were presented with a fait accompli. But also I think we have been very slow to react. After the seizure of Crimea and the conflict in the Eastern Ukraine, I think that NATO in effect woke up and has taken a number of measures, and the United States did as well, to bolster the defences    of NATO members on the periphery of Russia ", he said.

Robert Gates also stressed that European and American politicians proved at a certain stage unprepared for challenges that Russia has imposed on them.

"I think that the challenge that the American and European politicians have faced is figuring out how to blunt Putin’s aggressive manoeuvres, at the same time, as we recognize Russia’s place at the table  in dealing with a number of international problems. That is a test that I think we have not passed ", he said.

Former US Defence Secretary also emphasized that the attitude of the Western political elites towards Ukraine has to change.

"Where we have not been as strong, and I think that our policy has fallen short, is in persuading our political leaders that the integral Ukraine, prosperous, democratic and free, is essential to security and stability of Europe itself", he concluded.