The West is "crazy" because South Ossetia could be the next Crimea.

The Treaty of Alliance and Integration between Russia and South Ossetia on March 18 is causing the West to worry that the Crimea scenario will repeat itself in Georgia.

According to AFP, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an alliance agreement with the South Ossetia region on March 18. Accordingly, the Kremlin officially takes responsibility for protecting this self-proclaimed Republic, where Russia sent troops here during the short war with Georgia in 2008.

President Putin and the leader of South Ossetia sign the Treaty of Alliance and Integration (photo: Moscow Times)

AFP commented that Russia's decision was a "dangerous blow" and warned the West about the possibility that Moscow would expand its "protection umbrella" to many lands demanding secession.

America and NATO jump up

Reuters quoted NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on March 19: The new alliance treaty between Russia and South Ossetia, a breakaway region of Georgia, violates international law and hinders efforts to strengthen security in the region.

Mr. Stoltenberg stated that this Treaty “violates Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, clearly contravenes the principles of international law, the principles of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and Russia's international commitments.”

According to Mr. Stoltenberg, this agreement is another move by the Russian Federation to hinder current international efforts to strengthen security and stability in the region. NATO does not recognize this Treaty.

Meanwhile, the US also affirmed that it does not recognize the legality of the Russia-South Ossetia alliance treaty. US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki emphasized: "The occupied regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia are part of Georgia and we continue to support Georgia's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Will South Ossetia join Russia?

“South Ossetia hopes that the idea of ​​joining Russia will be implemented soon,” South Ossetian leader Leonid Tibiliov said on March 19.

“I think that the idea of ​​becoming part of Russia has existed in the minds of the people, it is no longer a secret. We will try to implement this plan and propose appropriate steps for both Russia and South Ossetia,” Mr. Tibiliov said.

Mr. Tibiliov also stated that the Treaty of Alliance and Integration that the two sides have just signed is the first step in the process of connecting the peoples of the two countries, creating the premise for annexation. The people of South Ossetia will soon have protection from Moscow against hostile forces.

Georgian army in a short battle with Russia (photo: Reuters)

Moscow recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, two breakaway regions of Georgia, after a brief war between Russia and Georgia in August 2008. Most citizens of South Ossetia and Abkhazia have held Russian citizenship for many years.

Since Russia recognized the independence of the two regions, Russia and Georgia have severed diplomatic relations. The Russian Defense Ministry also announced that Moscow is ready to use military force to protect the people in this region.

Before signing the union treaty with South Ossetia, in 2014, Russia signed a treaty with Abkhazia, according to which the Russian and Abkhazian military forces became a joint army led by a Russian commander.

Russia’s further tightening of ties with Abkhazia and South Ossetia comes amid an unprecedented deterioration in relations between Moscow and the West over the crisis in Ukraine. Russia’s new move is not only alarming the West but also startling Ukraine.

Donbass – a warning to Ukraine

Ukraine's move to join NATO is considered a "dangerous" move for Russia; and of course Moscow must have a "defense" plan against the encirclement of "unfriendly forces". Moscow is ready to do everything to prevent NATO from approaching its borders, threatening its security and strategic interests.

Russia itself has also made extremely careful calculations, not creating an excuse for the US and EU to accuse it of "Russian aggression" through the recently concluded 2014 Alliance Agreements with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, completely "legitimizing" the presence of the Russian army in these lands.

According to expert Mark Galeotti, Department of Russian Security History, New York University, USA, this is a warning to Kiev. “Weapons as well as military training forces from Russia will help Donbass defeat the Kiev army. It will be dangerous if a similar agreement is signed with Abkhazia and South Ossetia with Donbass.”

Not only with Donbass, the signing of the alliance agreement between Russia and South Ossetia on March 18 is also a warning to two other breakaway territories including Transnistria, formerly part of Moldova, and Nagorno Karabakh, nominally administered by Azerbaijan. Up to this point, although Russia has not agreed to annexation, it has accepted to play the role of “protector”, with many clear benefits.

Expert Mark Galeotti said: “Leaving open the possibility of annexing separatist lands is not a simple calculation of Russia. It is a bargaining chip with the West in case Moscow is oppressed”./.

According to VOV