1992 Reports

Moscow and German Unification

Larrabee, F. Stephen

The Two Plus Four Agreement regulating the external aspects of German unification, signed on September 12,1990, closed an important chapter in European politics and in Moscow’s policy toward Germany. Since the mid-1950s (if not earlier) Soviet policy in Europe had been aimed at maintaining the division of Germany and stabilizing the GDR. Indeed, the existence of two German sovereign states was the cornerstone of Moscow’s European policy. Thus, the unification of Germany shattered the foundations of Moscow’s postwar policy in Europe.