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Relations between Russia and the U.S. have entered a dangerous stalemate. America cannot accept Russia's aggressive posture, but U.S. anger is only making the situation worse. Because of this political climate the foundations of U.S. policy toward Russia must be revised, starting by acknowledging Russia’s security interests.
Putin’s role in Russia currently remains unclear. Amidst the transition of the U.S. government, this factor will hinder U.S.-Russia relations. However, a bilateral commission made up of past U.S. and Russian presidents, with Putin serving the role of past president, can alleviate this problem.
Expectations are running high for major changes in the next U.S. administration's foreign policy, but how much change is likely, and will it be enough to close the gap between America and the world? Top experts from the Carnegie Endowment and elsewhere discussed this question during a two-day conference in Brussels.
Experts discussed how the West can move forward with its relationship with Russia in the aftermath of the Georgian conflict.
Medevdev’s recent visits to the Far East reflect Russia’s geopolitical interests: to strengthen its presence in the Arctic and Asian-Pacific Rim. The visit also focused attention on the region’s economic and depopulation woes. While Medvedev’s response to the problems contrasts sharply with Putin’s optimistic statements, it remains to be seen whether Medvedev can provide a better cure.
New leadership in Moscow and Washington will soon face decisions that will reshape the U.S.-Russia agenda and set new priorities. The governments both countries should not succumb to the political inertia that has followed the Caucasus conflict. Instead, they must show reflection and restraint.
Almost undetected, Russia is regaining much of the influence that it lost in the Middle East after the Soviet Union collapsed. Ever since Russia invaded Georgia in August, Arab satellite television and websites have been rife with talk about the region's role in an emerging "new cold war." Is the Arab world's cold war patron really back, and, if so, what will it mean for peace in the region?
At a crucial point in U.S.-Russia relations, many of the former Russian and U.S. ambassadors gathered together and urged both the Russian and U.S. governments to exercise reflection and restraint. In a joint statement released as the culmination of a several-day meeting, the ambassadors called upon the creation of an improved framework for consultations and negotiations between the two nations.
2007 witnessed a "notable setback for global freedom." Some of this is the fault of the Bush administration, whose policies have given democratization a bad name. At the same time, new democracies have not figured out how to secure their new political systems beyond their first elections. Some democratization advocates wonder whether democracy has reached its global limits.
With U.S.-Russia relations at a crossroads, several former ambassadors to Russia and the United States met to discuss how the two nations might move forward. In the near term they urged both nations to exercise restraint and cool their rhetorical exchanges. Looking to the longer term they urged the creation of an improved framework for dialogue.
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