He recalled that, including Romania's perspective, things have changed internationally compared to the situation 20 years ago. Robert Kaplan pointed out that the mid-90s, NATO was a very strong alliance and the European Union was "dynamic and smooth", while Russia was "weak and chaotic".
"Now, if we go forward 20 years, in 2016 we have? We have a very different situation. Russia weak and chaotic is run by someone with a very determined geopolitical vision (...) that Russia was invaded by Hitler and Napoleon, and the Swedes, Lithuanians, Poles. Therefore, Russia needs a buffer zone, a zone of influence in central and eastern Europe, a question mark and on NATO," said Kaplan.
The US analyst argues, however, that the situation is not the same as in the '40s, "Romania is no longer caught between Hitler and Stalin."
"The situation is more ambiguous. There's so dark and not so hopeless as it was, say, in 1940, but we can not say that you've got a permanent holiday from history, as thought people in 1995. I think ultimately what matters most is Romania's ability to strengthen its institutions in a way more transparent, more transparent and stronger institutions for becoming more attractive place for foreign investors because this strengthens national security, "said Robert Kaplan.
In his opinion, "the Russian threat is not tanks and combat aircraft, but subversion". According to the American analyst, Russia will try to undermine countries like Romania through operations intelligence by organized crime by buying media through third parties, all of which "weaken the link with the west and with the tradition of western democracy secular in Central and Eastern Europe" .
"Romania should do their courage would be to fall into authoritarianism as Hungary is not compromised by weak institutions which are more likely to fall prey to the influences of Russian, as happened in Bulgaria or Serbia. Romania given the region where they are, is quite strong, "said Kaplan.
Agerpres / Catalin Alexandru editor: Karina Olteanu, online editor Adrian Dadarlat