After much delay, Russia has just published its new defence doctrine. In part "It's a throwback to Cold War thinking," says Dr Marcel de Haas - a researcher at Clingendael, the Netherlands Institute of International Relations - in a video interview with RNW Security and Defence specialist Hans de Vreij.

Dr De Haas has, in fact, written about Moscow's new defence thinking... in a Russian newspaper. But why would anyone in Russia care about what a Dutchman thinks of the country's defence policy?

Well, for one, Dr Marcel de Haas knows what he is talking about. He has studied Russian developments for many years and has published numerous articles in Russian media. As for the subject matter: De Haas himself is the main author of the latest Dutch Defence Doctrine.

In the interview, De Haas says that the West is “destined” to increase cooperation with Russia. “If we only blame Russia for this sort of Cold War thinking, they will radicalize even more and turn towards countries like Iran and Venezuela”, the researcher argues.