Policy Watch: Putin's Munich speech

Abstract

"Russian President Vladimir Putin's Feb. 10 speech at the Munich Conference on Security Policy received a lot of press coverage in the West for its criticism of U.S. foreign policy. Less noted in the United States, however, was that his speech was also critical of European governments. Putin's unhappiness with American foreign policy was evident from his denunciation of the ""unipolar world."" Putin particularly objects to the ""almost unrestrained, exaggerated use of force"" and what he sees as America imposing its legal norms ""on other states in all spheres."" He also stated his opposition to the deployment of American missile defense systems in Europe and the militarization of outer space. Putin said that while Russia will ""strictly adhere to the obligation"" that Washington and Moscow agreed upon to each reduce its deliverable strategic nuclear warhead inventory to 1,700-2,200 by the end of 2012, he expressed fear that the U.S. will not."