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If the Obama administration believes U.S. relations with Russia's authoritarian regime can be reduced to the false dichotomy of isolation or cooperation, its efforts to improve relations with Moscow will lead to more mutual disappointment.
As top policy experts assess President Obama’s performance during his first hundred days in office, the results are somewhat mixed but generally positive.
The recent protests in Moldova were sparked by allegations of rigged election results, but their roots lie in the Moldovan government's agreement with Russia to significantly slow down the process of Moldova's accession to the European Union.
NATO members should engage in a radical rethink of the alliance's role in a world of changing security threats.
The United States and Russia can improve strained relations by focusing on areas of compatible interests and clearly defining a set of near-term priority objectives for bilateral cooperation.
The commencement of the Obama administration coincided with a events that have opened opportunities for a change of course in U.S.-Russia relations.
The Obama administration needs a new approach to the Caspian region that provides opportunities for local leaders to engage with the United States in economic and political development.
The Kremlin is pursuing two varying policies. In the Western hemisphere, Moscow attempts to replay Cold War games. Off the coast of Africa, Russia has joined with the navies of the US and others to confront the dire threat of piracy. Since Moscow has painfully few resources available to defend its national interests, it needs to choose a single model. Medvedev should go with the pirates.
The path back from the brink of conflict will be a difficult one for Russia and the West. It will require an ambivalent Russia to choose love over hatred, to purge its old demons and to rethink its global role. It will also require the self-absorbed West to adopt a long term strategy for promoting peace and prosperity in Eurasia.
In the wake of the Russia-Georgia conflict commentators often ask whether the U.S. and Russia can cooperate. The urgency of nuclear threats around the world, including Iran's ambitions, requires both countries to “wall off” their nuclear discussion from other issues that might hinder progress on finding solutions to common security challenges.