Wasn't this the equivalent of Putin giving a green light to NATO enlargement?
Russia's reaction to the new momentum behind NATO enlargement has not been as hostile as many expected. Indeed, just 24 hours after the Bush speech, Russian President Vladimir Putin warmly embraced the American president at a summit in Bled, Slovenia, strongly implying that he did not intend to let enlargement undermine the potential for U.S.-Russia cooperation. Later in the summer, Putin took a further step toward acknowledging the inevitability of enlargement by expressing the view that Russia might itself want to join NATO, as an alternative to his preferred option of seeing NATO disappear. Putin went even further in October 2001, as Russian-American cooperation on terrorism was moving forward, saying that if NATO were to continue "becoming more political than military" Russia might reconsider its opposition to enlargement. This was hardly an expression of Russian support for enlargement, but it was the strongest signal yet that Moscow wants to find a way to accommodate a development that it does not like but knows it cannot stop. At their November 2001 summit in Crawford, Texas, Putin did not press Bush on the issue.
http://www.brookings.edu/comm/policybriefs/pb90.htm
But then came the German "counterattack" in the form of a speech by Schroeder calling NATO outdated and proposing a trans-Atlantic panel of experts to reform it. NATO, Schroeder said, was "no longer the primary venue where trans-Atlantic partners consult on and coordinate strategic ideas." Schroeder's point was that many of the divisive, post-Cold War issues -- for example, the Iraq war, the Kyoto protocol, weapons sales to China -- were outside the scope of the U.S.-controlled alliance and there was currently no other appropriate forum in which to discuss them.
Three points were worth noting about the Schroeder speech. First, the chancellor had used what had originally been an annual, informal gathering of NATO allies to discuss Cold War security issues but which had recently changed its character (the Russians now attend) in order to make his point that NATO was out of date. Second, judging from Rumsfeld's reaction, the Germans had probably given the defense secretary no advance word on what Schroeder was going to say. In fact, Rumsfeld was non-committal, "I don't know," he said. "We're reviewing NATO structures already. I have the impression that important issues are discussed at NATO." Third, Schroeder was sending a message that, while somewhat vague, could be seen as a rejection of the notion that the world revolved around American solutions. - LINK
Russia warns Nato of new arms race - 4 Apr 2004 - The head of the Duma’s defence affairs committee, Col Gen Viktor Zavarzin, added that the Russian military could counter the alliance’s expansion by putting more emphasis on tactical nuclear weapons. "We have always opposed and will oppose such Nato actions, regarding them as a strategic blunder," he said. He said Russia might "adjust" its plans to cut the number of troops in the area opposite the Baltic states by 40%, and "outlays for national defence should be boosted". Russia’s objections are twofold. It opposes Nato plans to move troops close to its boundaries, and it objects to Nato taking over the air defences of the Baltic states. In 1999, when the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland became the first former members of the communist Warsaw Pact to join Nato, the alliance sought to sugar the pill by promising Russia that it did not intend to keep foreign troops or nuclear weapons on their territory. However, already there are firm indications that Washington intends to transfer many of the 71,000 troops based in Germany to bases in eastern Europe. American military planning groups have been examining sites in Poland, Romania and Bulgaria as potential Nato bases.
The US says its move is part of a strategic shift from large garrisons to small bases that can respond quickly to crises, especially the threat of terrorism. It says Russian officials had already agreed to Nato bases being set up in Bulgaria and Romania to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. But Russia suspects that Washington is eyeing the territory of some of the new Nato members as possible launch pads for projecting US power into the Middle East. Nato blames Russia for failing to fulfil its pledge to withdraw its troops from the former Soviet republics of Georgia and Moldova. Russia is particularly sensitive that Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, all former Soviet republics, could not only provide a base for Nato troops on the Russian border, but also host Nato air bases. Nato Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said last week that collective air defence had been part of Nato’s role since its foundation, and that Russia had been informed about the decision to patrol the airspace of the Baltic states. "It’s Nato airspace and Nato airspace has always been patrolled and covered," he said. But Russia fears these patrols could be used to spy on its territory. "We dislike the deployment of Nato warplanes in the Baltic countries," Zavarzin said. Moscow’s growing anger at Nato’s eastwards expansion is further enflamed by a spat with Lithuania. On the day after Lithuania joined Nato, Moscow expelled three Lithuanian diplomats, accusing them of spying. The expulsions were a tit-for-tat move after Lithuania expelled three Russian diplomats. "It’s been no secret Russia has great interests in Lithuania," said Rasa Jukneviciene, a Lithuanian parliamentarian. "Soviet tanks left long ago, but their agents are still here."
As NATO Grows, So Do Russia's Worries - April 7, 2004 - SERGEI IVANOV - "Why is an organization that was designed to oppose the Soviet Union and its allies in Eastern Europe still necessary in today's world? This concern is all the more pressing given the events of the last few years indicating that the alliance is looking to consolidate international security by military means... Many Russians are also worried by the American-led campaign against the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. While it was successfully launched — and supported by Russia — this campaign too has failed to attain its objectives. International terrorist groups are stepping up their activities, Qaeda members are infiltrating the Middle East, and the Taliban is to some extent reviving its military potential. The failure last month by Pakistani forces to capture a Qaeda contingent on that country's border with Afghanistan was an indicative setback. And, of course, Iraq is now occupied by the United States and its allies, including some of the countries now joining NATO. It has become a magnet attracting terrorists from the East of the Arab world. More than 600 American soldiers and 100 other NATO troops have already been killed, not to mention the civilian death toll. The recent terrorist attack in Madrid should be seen as yet another link in the chain of violence."
Russia slams US, NATO influence in Central Asia - Nov 29, 2005 - "The pressure that NATO and US political and military structures exert on Central Asia is heightening tension in the area of responsibility" of the Collective Security Treaty group, Ivanov added.
Russian Intelligence Chief: U.S. Bases Near Russia a 'Threat' - December 19, 2005 - "Russians cannot help but be concerned about new military bases and military contingents being deployed around our country."
Georgia’s And Ukraine’s Affiliation To NATO Will Make Russia Increase Military Expenditures - April 27, 2006 - Russia has questions to NATO with regard to possible deployment of military bases in its new member states, in particular in Romania and Bulgaria.