Abstract
In the light of recent developments and Russia's Foreign Policy turn of the past decade, this study will try to weigh out the country's position toward the West, and more specifically toward the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Will the future confirm what some observers interpreted as a Russian leaning toward NATO? Or will the gap between NATO's value-based security goals and Russia's national-oriented ones broaden? Will the combination of the United States' (US) administration active return to multilateralism and Russia's desire for global recognition enable both actors to overcome the Cold War legacies and to reverse former Eastern/Western antagonisms? Is there a foreseeable future for Russia within NATO?
This study will question the likelihood of Russia being more than one of NATO's partners by gauging the substantial gap between recent Western diplomatic moves toward Russia on the one hand and Moscow's reluctance for more cooperation with the West on the other hand.
NATO's 2010 Strategic Concept was often interpreted as the Alliance willingness to open a new chapter of NATO-Russia relationships. Not only does the manuscript assert its members' willingness to foster the existing cooperation and consultation processes involving Russia , but it also clearly discloses the Western plans to shape a "true strategic partnership" with Moscow .
