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Other

The U.S.-Europe vs. Russia Triangle

Russia’s relations with Europe and the United States are at their worst since the end of the Soviet Union. Yet the biggest challenge facing the West may come from within, not outside, the Western alliance.

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By Eugene Rumer
Published on Jul 11, 2018

Source: Istituto Affari Internazionali

Russia’s relations with Europe and the United States are at their worst since the end of the Soviet Union. Russian leaders reject the post-Cold War vision of a Europe whole, free, at peace with itself and its neighbours, view NATO as a threat and increasingly consider the EU as a danger to Russia’s political system. This is unlikely to change soon. The anti-Western worldview of Russia’s national security establishment, the proximity of the NATO-Russia line of contact to the Russian heartland, and Russia’s newly assertive posture in many far-flung regions of the world contribute to an atmosphere of heightened tensions between Russia and Europe and the United States. This, however, may not be the biggest challenge facing the West. In the age of Trump, that challenge may come from within, not outside, the Western alliance.

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This paper was originally published by Istituto Affari Internazionali.

About the Author

Eugene Rumer

Director and Senior Fellow, Russia and Eurasia Program

Rumer, a former national intelligence officer for Russia and Eurasia at the U.S. National Intelligence Council, is a senior fellow and the director of Carnegie’s Russia and Eurasia Program.

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Eugene Rumer
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Eugene Rumer
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Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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