Relations Between the Russian Federation and North Atlantic Treaty Organization During the Second Presidential Term of Vladimir Putin

Drugi predsjednički mandat Vladimira Putina predstavlja prekretnicu u odnosima s NATO savezom i bazu za razumijevanje današnjeg suparništva. Putin je tokom prvog predsjedničkog mandata posložio unutarnje snage i sredio unutarnju politiku i ekonomiju Ruske Federacije. U tu svrhu koristio je i vanjsku politiku, prvenstveno kroz suradnju sa Zapadom. Kada je došlo do jačanja Rusije i njenog novog pozicioniranja u Europi, došlo je do prvih antagonizama s članicama NATO saveza. Glavni problemi i nesuglasice bile su zbog politike širenja NATO saveza, izgradnje proturaketne obrane u Europi. Također je bilo neslaganja i zbog implementacije Sporazuma o konvencionalnom naoružanju u novom kontekstu europske sigurnosti. Proširenje NATO saveza do granice s Rusijom i početni pregovori oko potencijalnog ulaska Ukrajine i Gruzije u euroatlantske integracije, za Rusiju su predstavljale opasnost interpretirane kao težnju zapadnih saveznika za novim okruženjem i containment Rusije. U drugom predsjedničkom mandatu Putina postavljene su osnovne premise i temelji današnjeg antagonizma u odnosima NATO-Rusija. Metodologija rada temelji se na istraživanju i analize literature, članak i dokumenata na hrvatskom, engleskom i ruskom jeziku. Rad nastoji opisati i objasniti položaj Rusije u tom odnosu, koji se rijetko može čuti u Hrvatskom javnom prostoru.Vladimir Putin's second presidential mandate represents a turning point in Russian relations with NATO alliance and it is basis for understanding today's rivalry. During his first presidential mandate, Putin has organized internal forces and has arranged the Russian Federation's internal policy and economy. For this purpose, he also used foreign policy, primarily through cooperation with the West. When Russia got stronger and started with her new positioning in Europe, the first antagonisms had taken place with members of the NATO alliance. The main problems and disagreements were due to the policy of NATO enlargement and building an anti-missile defense in Europe. There was also disagreement over the implementation of the Agreement on conventional arms in the new context of European security. The expansion of the NATO alliance to the border with Russia and the initial negotiations on the potential entry of Ukraine and Georgia into Euro-Atlantic integration, for Russia were a danger interpreted as the aspirations of Western allies for the new encirclement and containment of Russia. Putin's second presidential mandate has laid the main assumptions and foundations of today's antagonism in NATO-Russia relations. The methodology of work is based on research and analysis of literature, articles and documents in Croatian, English and Russian language. The paper seeks to describe and explain the position of Russia in these relations, which is rarely heard in Croatian public space