Külügyi Szemle - A Magyar Külügyi Intézet folyóirata - 2010 (9. évfolyam)
2010 / 2. szám - KÖZÉP-EURÓPA - Magyarics Tamás: A kapcsolatok "normalizálása" vagy jóindulatú közömbösség? Az Egyesült Államok Közép-Európa-politikája
Magyarics Tamás Résumé The 'Normalization' of Relations or Benevolent Neglect? The Policy of the U.S. Towards Central Europe In Summer 2009 twenty-two prominent Central and East European statesmen addressed an open letter to President Obama in which they called his attention to the perils of neglecting the region. The letter has achieved at least one goal: the U.S.-Central European relations have become part of the general discourse on the foreign policy of the Democratic Administration, which came into power in January 2009. The essay argues that this specific relationhip is very much determined, on one hand, by the U.S.- Russian relations (basically conceived within the framework of strategic reassurance) and, on the other one, by the deepening integration of the EU, which is strengthening the trends towards common positions to be taken by the member states on an ever wider range of issues. Despite the gradual emergence of a CFSP in Europe, it seems that the Central and East Europeans have a distinct security perception, which calls for enhanced cooperation with the U.S. - especially in the 'hard' security fields. Therefore, multilatarization and bilateralization of the relations between the region and the U.S. are going hand in hand. The American perception of the region has also changed over the past few years. Nowadays, Washington tends to look upon the countries in Central and East Europe as 'normal' parliamentary democracies which do not require the special attention they received in the years following the collapse of Communism until, practically, their accession to NATO and the EU. The Obama-administration has, in effect, adopted John F. Kennedy's famous line with a slight change in its relations with the Central and East Europeans: "Ask not what we can do for you; ask, what we can do together." 88 Külügyi Szemle
