Commentary
The war in Ukraine is costing Russia its leverage overseas. Across the South Caucasus and Middle East, this presents an opportunity for Europe to pick up the pieces and claim its own sphere of influence.
William Dixon, Maksym Beznosiuk
{
"authors": [],
"type": "pressRelease",
"centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
"centers": [
"Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
],
"collections": [],
"englishNewsletterAll": "ctw",
"nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
"primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
"programAffiliation": "russia",
"programs": [
"Russia and Eurasia"
],
"projects": [],
"regions": [
"Caucasus",
"Russia"
],
"topics": []
}
REQUIRED IMAGE
Press Release
United States should focus on concrete interests to narrow “values gap” with Russia
While the reset in U.S.-Russia relations has led to significant security accomplishments, less progress has been made on improving Russia’s commitment to democratic reform.
Published on Nov 30, 2010
WASHINGTON, November 30—While the reset in U.S.-Russia relations has led to significant security accomplishments, less progress has been made on improving Russia’s commitment to democratic reform. Rather than linking U.S.-Russia cooperation to Moscow’s human rights record or ignoring undemocratic practices, Washington should emphasize how the Kremlin’s actions affect concrete American interests in order to reduce differences on issues of transparency, rule of law, and human rights between the two countries, write Matthew Rojansky and Ambassador James F. Collins in a new paper.
Key Findings and Recommendations:
- Remind Russia of its voluntary commitments. The United States, Europe, and multilateral institutions should insist Russia follow international rules and norms it has freely agreed to, such as the Charter of Paris and the European Convention on Human Rights.
- Support U.S. citizens and companies abroad. The United States should insist on legal protections for American entrepreneurs and investors participating in Russia’s modernization campaign, and insist Russia follow U.S. rules in the American market.
- Tell Russia its actions risk a backlash. The Obama administration should remind Russia that its political repression and economic abuses will turn off Americans and limit U.S. ability to further engage Russia in the future.
"By focusing on how Russian domestic policies affect U.S. interests, Washington has a better chance to influence change in Moscow than by holding cooperation hostage to unrealistic goals or by artificially delinking Russia’s domestic policies from the U.S.-Russia relationship," Rojansky and Collins write.
NOTES
Click here to read the full policy outlook
Matthew Rojansky is the deputy director of the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment. An expert on U.S. and Russian national security and nuclear weapons policies, his work focuses on relations among the United States, NATO, and the states of the former Soviet Union.
James F. Collins, director of the Carnegie Russia and Eurasia Program, is an expert on the former Soviet Union, its successor states, and on the Middle East. He was the U.S. ambassador to the Russian Federation from (1997–2001).
The Carnegie Russia and Eurasia Program has, since the end of the Cold War, led the field on Eurasian security, including strategic nuclear weapons and nonproliferation, development, economic and social issues, governance, and the rule of law.
Press Contact: Kendra Galante, 202-939-2233, pressoffice@ceip.org
More Work from Carnegie Europe
- Russia’s Imperial Retreat Is Europe’s Strategic Opportunity
- Is the Radical-Right Threat Existential or Overstated?Commentary
Amid increased polarization and the influence of disinformation, radical-right parties are once again gaining traction across Europe. With landmark elections on the horizon in several countries, are the EU’s geostrategic vision and fundamental values under existential threat?
Catherine Fieschi, Cas Mudde
- Taking the Pulse: Is France’s New Nuclear Doctrine Ambitious Enough?Commentary
French President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled his country’s new nuclear doctrine. Are the changes he has made enough to reassure France’s European partners in the current geopolitical context?
Rym Momtaz, ed.
- Europe Falls Behind in the South Caucasus Connectivity RaceCommentary
The EU lacks leadership and strategic planning in the South Caucasus, while the United States is leading the charge. To secure its geopolitical interests, Brussels must invest in new connectivity for the region.
Zaur Shiriyev
- Taking the Pulse: What Issue Is Europe Ignoring at Its Peril in 2026?Commentary
2026 has started in crisis, as the actions of unpredictable leaders shape an increasingly volatile global environment. To shift from crisis response to strategic foresight, what under-the-radar issues should the EU prepare for in the coming year?
Thomas de Waal
