Russia and European security

Russia must redefine itself and develop new foreign policy objectives in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union and of Communism's hold over Eastern Europe. Developing new foreign policy objectives is especially difficult in a country with severe economic and social problems. Although it is unlikely that Russia could again pose a military threat for the West, any Russian attempts to dominate former Soviet Republics should be taken seriously. The West should forestal such attempts by extending NATO membership to countries that once belonged to the Soviet bloc.