Georgian Conflict Highlights Eastern Anxieties

As Russian forces continue to roll through Georgia, both Eastern and Western nations are reconsidering their relations in the face of an emboldened and insolent Moscow. The Christian Science Monitor examines this new geopolitical reality from the perspective of ex-Soviet states determined to prevent a renaissance of Russia's hegemony over its neighbors.

The most immediate consequence of the Georgian invasion has been a quick resolution to US-Poland negotiations over long-disputed missile shield emplacements. "The events in the Caucasus show clearly that such security guarantees are indispensable," said the Polish PM. Now other Eastern European states are considering new policies to fend off Moscow, such as limiting the Russian navy’s use of their ports.