Carnegie Moscow Center
The Magnitsky Act, passed by the U.S. Congress, and the Russian response to it can be seen as further evidence of the complicated and worsening relationship between Washington and Moscow.
The United States and Russia face a fundamental choice: to continue their transactional approach to relations or to put relations in a broader, longer-term strategic framework.
The new, harsher attitudes in the West toward Putin’s regime open a window of opportunity for both the West and Russia.
The Obama administration has a unique opportunity to redefine the U.S.-Russian strategic relationship by cooperating with Moscow on missile defense.
Russian society is waking up and pushing back against Putin’s brand of authoritarianism, with the potential to bring about a transformation of the system into one based on the rule of law.
Supporters of the evolution of nuclear safeguards should resolve Russia’s concerns over the IAEA’s safeguards system so it can be adapted to new challenges.
The world is seeking leadership from U.S. President Obama on a range of foreign policy challenges, from Iran’s nuclear program to Sino-U.S. relations.
It is unlikely that Obama will act to worsen U.S.-Russia relations during his second presidential term.
Barack Obama’s second term has the chance to become the vindication of his Nobel Peace Prize, but he will need to craft a very careful course on Iran, be wise on China, and become strategic on Russia.
Both the Kremlin and the Russian opposition hope to use the United States and its policies to serve their own domestic agendas.