TBILISI, Georgia -- Despite disagreeing over whether France should sell four Mistral-class
amphibious vessels to Russia, most Western defense analysts seem to
believe that the deal will not only happen, but is an item of overblown
concern. However, prevailing opinion in Washington and Brussels stands
in sharp contrast to Eastern European capitals, where unease over the
sale remains strong and is rooted in very different assumptions over
Moscow's intentions.
Many in the West simply do not believe
the vessels would significantly alter the balance of power in the
region, pointing to the relatively minor combat capability they would
add compared to existing capabilities in Russia's fleet. Proponents and
those indifferent to the deal have also used the
poor overall condition
of the Russian fleet as well as
the worldwide upswing in the acquisition of similar amphibious platforms to relativize Russia's
intentions. While technically correct, such observations gloss over
some key issues that lie at the heart of Eastern European fears. ...