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Conditional and tentative peace between Russia and other European countries is being replaced by much more durable relationships which eschew war as an instrument of policy among the countries concerned.
The APEC agenda focuses on trade and investment liberalization, business facilitation, and economic and technical cooperation—all things that are top priorities for Russia, if it seeks to develop its Asia-Pacific territory and increase its presence in the region.
While Russian military reform, aimed at creating a modern military institution, has proven relatively successful, the Putin leadership’s strategic thinking remains outdated.
Russians need to see themselves as a Euro-Pacific country, and act accordingly by developing Russia's own Asia-Pacific territory and increasing its activity in the whole region.
If Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is elected, there is reason to worry that bilateral relations between the United States and Russia may become frayed. However, Russia will not be Romney’s foreign policy priority.
An interesting relationship is emerging between Turkey and Russia, which may impact on a range of countries that once used to be part of either the Ottoman or Russian/Soviet empires, or both.
If a solution to the Syria problem is not found soon, not only will Syria descend into wholesale carnage, but the prospects for future conflict management in the world will become much bleaker.
Would focusing on transition (not regime change) bring the Russians back to the table over Syria?
A political transition, rather than regime change, may be the only chance for international cooperation on Syria.
If United States and Russia fail to collaborate on urgent global issues, it could enhance the two countries’ mutual alienation, allow regional crises to run unabated, and even lead to a reconfiguration of the world’s strategic landscape.
