International security

Breaking the Rules: How NATO 'Could Undermine' Founding Act With Russia

Permanent NATO bases are an issue of particular concern, the analyst added, because it is a major policy change for the alliance. The bloc has previously built up its military capabilities close to Russia's borders through rotational deployment.

"Moscow has a problem with just the idea of rotating forces. But, as I said, those aren't permanent and can be more easily drawn back than a proposed third permanent deployment. This is a major issue and it could undermine the NATO–Russia Founding Act," Gardner warned.

The NATO–Russia Founding Act of 1997 is the document "in which the US had promised not to permanently deploy either troops or nuclear weapons in the new NATO countries," Professor of International and Comparative Politics at the American University in Paris explained.