MOSCOW: Russian authorities are showing renewed toughness with Nato following its move eastwards earlier this month. The inclusion of Estonia among the new members means Nato now stands within 160 km of St. Petersburg.

Former Soviet allies Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary had joined Nato (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) in 1999.

Security concerns mounted in Russia after the national flags of Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were raised at the Nato headquarters in Brussels in an emotional ceremony early April. US President George W. Bush hosted celebrations for the new members in Washington.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is now asking whether the expansion will improve security and provide stability in Europe. "We have already expressed much concern about the drastic expansion close to Russia's borders," Putin was quoted as saying by the ITAR-TASS news agency in Moscow.

Putin's stand marked an unexpected change from his earlier upbeat position on Nato and declarations that Russia would work closely with the alliance to fight international terrorism. Latent tensions are now rising to the surface, going by comments from security experts and political leaders.

The Nato expansion "should have been a signal for Russia to devise its own corresponding defence and security strategies," says Leonid Ivanov, vice- president of the Academy of Geo-Political Analysis. "In that case there would not have been any fears running down our spine."

But the fears now being expressed by Russia "show clearly that Russia has weak national and external political strategies in relation to moves by international institutions," he added.

Russian policies towards the European Union (EU), Nato and towards the United States are beginning to develop a noticeably harder edge on several international issues.

Russia had adopted an unprecedented pro-US stand following Sept 11 2001 attacks. Putin offered steady support to the United States in its war on terrorism, and supported US moves for the invasion of Afghanistan. Putin went so far as to proclaim near coinciding of interests with the West.

But with Nato moving its military operations far into Eastern Europe, that position has become difficult for Russia to maintain, particularly in the light of statements from Western leaders that authoritarian states such as Russia need to be brought into a new working partnership.

Defence experts are particularly concerned. "From the very start Russia opposed the extension of Nato's activities, but a new policy could be designed to prevent further critical sentiments from growing into anti- Americanism," says Dmitry Orlov, deputy head of the Centre for Political Technologies.

"There should be some limits and I think that Russian authorities have to force these," he added. "All efforts must be made to ensure that the political assurances given by Nato are observed." But not everyone is alarmed. State Duma international affairs committee chairman Konstantin Kosachyov says relations between Russia and its neighbours will only be strengthened by the recent developments.

"We have set out our position in clear terms," he said in a statement. The new developments will "allow Russia to qualitatively build up confidence and military dominance."

Russia is committed to long-term pursuit of common political and economic interests with neighbouring ex-Soviet republics, he said. Maintaining peace and security is necessary for regional development, he added.

Political advisor at the US embassy in Moscow John Barley says relations with Russia will not be affected negatively because new military infrastructure is not being installed.

"Maybe some people will raise some disagreements," he said in an interview published in a parliament newspaper. But the expansion would only help remove the old myths surrounding the United States and Russia, he said. "I think Russia-Nato relations have opened a new chapter." -Dawn/The Inter Press News Service.