Thread by @FLojdquist

1. Highly laudable and interesting discussion
@AtlanticCouncil on a pressing topic. Arguments are met by argumnents, as it should be. Nevertheless, some reflections:

https://twitter.com/AtlanticCouncil/status/1379421293372698624

2. The future Russia and Eastern Europe policy of the Biden administration will have consequences beyond the US and the region itself, as will how the driving forces behind such a policy are articulated and defined - "values vs interests".

3. However, I would argue that the "values vs interest"-dichotomy is a false one. Upholding the normative global rules-based order in general and the #Europeansecurityorder in particular is a critical value and hard security interest.

4. Since the Helsinki Final Act and the Charter of Paris, the old and new testament of the European Security Order, respect for democracy, human rights, and rule of law within a state is intimately linked to security between states = comprehensive concept of security of #OSCE

5. Moscow declaration: The participating States emphasize that issues relating to human rights, fundamental freedoms, democracy and the rule of law are of international concern, as respect for these rights and freedoms constitutes one of the foundations of the international order

6. What happens within a country doesn't stay at the border. Domestic issues like violations of internationally binding commitments on democracy, human rights and rule of law, cannot be separated from international relations and politics.

7. That is, there is a link between internal repression and external agression. Violations of the the security order is a systemic problem and undermine it. Thus violations of territorial integrity and sovereignity in #Ukraine is not a local or regional problem or conflict.

8. Not holding those reponsible for the violations accountable risks undermining the normative order and condoning these violations (moral hazard of security policy), if not de jure so at least de facto. #slipperyslope

9. I also feel increasingly uneasy about the alleged division of analysts and policymakers into realists vs idealists. To me upholding of international norms and agreements is a core security interest AND a value. Not least from the point of view of smaller countries in Europe.

10. Politicians and diplomats need to be able to do accountability AND cooperation, deterrence AND dialogue, in order to defend and uphold stability, respect for international agreements & commitments, not to undermine these interests and values.

11. Norms = Realpolitik.
Not to be forgotten, there is constructive ambiguity as well as destructive ambiguity in diplomacy and foreign policy.

12. This, of course, also goes for arms control and military CSBMs. Norm- and rules-based tools to increase transparency and predictability, based on the parties' interests. #OSCE2021SWE
@SwedeninATOSCE
#säkpol #föpol

13 @EmmaMAshford @matburrows @melindaharing @JohnEdHerbst @ACEurasia @ACScowcroft @MansRAD @mikercarpenter @AKendallTaylor @apolyakova @geyshapaola @LaurenSperanza @danbbaer @AmbDanFried @anders_aslund @ikelly731 @IanBrzezinski @edwardlucas @MartinKragh1 @UmlandAndreas
@FredKempe