Time to reinvigorate the trans-Atlantic partnership

Last month, when French President Nicolas Sarkozy visited Washington, administration officials had a golden opportunity to confront the French leader about his nation’s proposed sale of advanced amphibious warships to Russia. This sale threatens to shake the NATO alliance to its core, bolstering Russia’s offensive military capabilities as it intensifies its campaign of intimidation against neighboring countries.

Regrettably, not only did the administration fail to take a strong, public stand in opposition to this sale but, reportedly, the national security advisor did not raise the issue with his counterparts and suggested in an interview that the sale was in line with the administration’s outreach and overtures to Russia.

{mosads}It is therefore up to the Congress to use all available means to impress upon the French government the potentially disastrous consequences of this sale and urge it to reconsider. Russia’s menacing policies have already victimized some of our NATO allies. France must not enable Russia to do the same to others.

For our Eastern European NATO allies, such as the Baltic States and Poland, Russia’s invasion of Georgia in the fall of 2008 represented a frightening affirmation of the threat posed by their looming neighbor. But these valid security concerns were ignored and even worsened by some of the larger members of NATO. Germany and Italy quickly moved to reinforce trade and energy relations with the Russian regime. And France, after negotiating a cease-fire in Georgia, rushed to cash in on its new role vis-à-vis Russia with a lucrative sale of a major weapons system that would allow Moscow to mount more aggressive actions against its neighbor states.

By going through with its proposed sale of Mistral ships to Russia, France risks causing irreparable damage to the NATO alliance and the trans-Atlantic relationship. Empowering Russia with such capabilities blatantly undermines the security of those NATO allies that are withstanding Russia’s policies of intimidation and outright aggression. It is deeply disturbing that France appears unconcerned about the repercussions of its deal with Russia, despite the objections expressed by its NATO allies in Eastern Europe.

Just as worrisome is the prospect that other NATO states will “follow the leader,” and use the sale of French warships as justification to sell their own weapons to Russia. This first sale to Russia by a NATO ally of an advanced weapons system could open the floodgates, reward Russia’s aggression, and give Moscow the means to reinforce its campaign of intimidation and aggression against neighboring states. Through energy boycotts, a concerted effort to gain monopoly control over gas supplies to the rest of Europe, aggressive statements and military exercises based on imagined “threats,” Russia’s leaders are eagerly applying the same heavy-handed tactics they use against their own citizens to those nations closest to Russia’s borders.

Russia’s continued occupation of parts of neighboring countries and its massive invasion of Georgia illustrates the particular danger of highly capable military equipment flowing eastward to Russia from all parts of Europe.

But the Mistral controversy is only one of several growing problems in the trans-Atlantic relationship.

Many of our European allies are clinging to a Cold War mentality of focusing only on their own defense while leaving the United States alone to maintain global security. Some have restricted the role of their combat troops in Afghanistan; the European Union itself has been unable to deploy strategic airlifters; and many others have not met their funding obligations. The mindset of many in Europe is that the United States should not only continue to ensure Europe’s security, but also take on the major challenges around the world largely on its own.

Recently, the French Navy committed to sending 10 warships and 30 aircraft to NATO exercises designed to enhance the alliance’s ability to deploy a quick reaction force outside of Europe. Yet, according to reports, such French assets will not be made available to join the fight in Afghanistan.

Our major European allies need to realize that the American people cannot continue to finance their security when Europe is unwilling to share the burden in important operations like Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Some of Europe’s other policies, based on profiting from arms and energy deals with Russian leadership intent on undermining our NATO Alliance and intimidating the rest of Europe at any and every opportunity, are contrary to our mutual interests of global peace, security and stability.

Confronting President Sarkozy on his proposed weapons sales to Russia would have been a good first step toward addressing the problems facing the NATO alliance. But Congress can still fill the void left by the administration. First, we can adopt legislation, which I authored, stating our unequivocal opposition to France’s Mistral sale and all other sales of major weapons systems to Russia by NATO allies. Another resolution I authored would underscore America’s commitment to NATO and European security by urging the president to bolster missile defense in Europe.

The U.S. can no longer stand idly by and ignore cracks in this vital alliance.

Ros-Lehtinen is the ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.