Eastern European countries are against the idea that the work of the NATO-Russia Council should be resumed. The division inside NATO is becoming more apparent, especially after German experts, contrary to the stance of other NATO members, started to call for the withdrawal of German Patriot missiles from Turkey.
According to Erdmann, many NATO members perceive the lack of productive dialogue with Russia as a problem. German representatives did not specify which countries support the German position.
Due to the strong opposition from Eastern allies, the issue could remain a matter of dispute for a long time as the corresponding decision has to be made unanimously.
The NATO-Russia Council was established in 2002 to actively engage Moscow in cooperation with the Alliance and to strengthen trust between the parties. The Council met for the last time at the level of diplomats in June 2014.
Since then, dialogue between the parties has been frozen due to Russia’s position in the Ukrainian conflict.
