Carnegie Moscow Center
U.S.-Russia cooperation on civilian nuclear energy would enhance mutual security, promote economic growth, cement the gains of the reset, and provide the relationship with long-term stability.
The wildfires and heat wave that recently ravaged central Russia brought climate change to the forefront of the country’s domestic agenda and provide the Kremlin with an opportunity to prove its commitment to energy efficiency as well as economic modernization.
As Central Asia’s geopolitical role grows, its states face a number of transnational issues, including instability in Afghanistan, energy resources and development, and transport communications, which have a significant impact on regional security.
A year and a half into the “reset,” the partnership with Russia remains a challenging but indispensable one for the United States. Engaging Russia is crucial to U.S. success on issues ranging from nuclear arms control to climate change.
The Russian wildfires provide an opportunity for the country's leadership to increase domestic awareness about their new commitments to combating climate change while helping move international agreements forward.
Russia has acted to address climate change, but implementation remains problematic. The ongoing drought and forest fires are a wake-up call to the realities of climate change for both Russia’s public and its government officials.
The attack at the Baksan hydropower station may be a sign that the militants in the Russian republic of Kabardino-Balkaria are switching to guerilla warfare and that the authorities must rethink their strategy for how to deal with the North Caucasus.
Moscow’s unwillingness to trust market forces and continued insistence on top-down economic policies undermines any attempt at a true economic partnership with Europe.
Changing market conditions, increasing costs of production, and a new commitment to efficiency have given Russia an opportunity to increase its collaboration with Europe on issues of energy security.
Although Azerbaijan and Turkey have reached an agreement to supply natural gas to Turkey, the Nabucco pipeline project still faces many challenges.