Medvedev Warns Austria Risks Losing Neutral Status, International Role if It Joins NATO

Austria’s potential abandonment of its long-standing neutrality and accession to NATO could carry significant diplomatic consequences, Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council, warned in an article posted on his VKontakte social media page titled NATO Anschluss. He cautioned that such a move may trigger the relocation of key international organizations currently based in Vienna to countries in the Global South and East.

Medvedev stressed that Vienna plays a vital role in international diplomacy, hosting around 20 major organizations including the UN, IAEA, OSCE, and OPEC. This concentration has made Austria’s capital a key arena for global dialogue and cooperation. He underlined that Vienna’s neutral status was decisive in securing this position, offering an impartial platform for dialogue and legal responses to global challenges.

“The choice of Vienna was largely based on its non-aligned stance, which made it an effective platform for regional cooperation,” Medvedev wrote. He warned that abandoning neutrality for “bloc mentality” undermines the “spirit of Vienna,” diminishing Austria’s credibility as a mediator and jeopardizing its ability to maintain balanced international relations. Concluding, Medvedev suggested it is now necessary to consider relocating the headquarters of global institutions to the Global South and East, where conditions may better serve their work.