GUAM Becoming More Active as Union of Post-Soviet States Opposed to Russia, ‘Nezavisimaya Gazeta’ Says

Paul Goble

            Staunton, July 22 – When GUAM, the political grouping of Georgia, Ukraine, Armenia and Moldova, emerged two decades ago, it was intended as an alternative to the CIS and other Russian dominated organizations on the post-Soviet space; but after an initial spurt of activity, little has been heard from it.

            Indeed, for most of its existence, GUAM has been reduced to little more than a talk shop for the leaders of these countries with annual meetings and occasional declarations. But now, Moscow’s Nezavisimaya Gazeta says, it is becoming more active as an organization whose members oppose what Russia is doing in Ukraine (ng.ru/editorial/2025-07-22/2_9299_red.html).

            In an editorial, the paper explains that GUAM did not live up to expectations because until recently its members had not yet fully defined their “preferences” as far as Russia was concerned. But today, because of Putin’s  expanded war in Ukraine, they are doing so and raising the possibility that GUAM will become what its creators hoped, the anti-Russian organization.

            All four of its members have “left or are leaving structures” led and dominated by Moscow, the paper points out, adding that “if Moscow doesn’t figure out how to get out of the current situation with the least losses, then GUAM will become what it hoped to be earlier – a community of countries opposing one of the sides of the conflict in Ukraine.”

            And that side, “of course,” will be Russia, a development that will affect not only how that conflict plays out but much else besides now and in the future.