Carnegie Moscow Center
The realization that both the United States and the Soviet Union shared an interest in preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons led to a 1968 agreement that existing nuclear weapons states would work toward nuclear zero if other states agreed not to develop nuclear weapons.
Moscow needs to drop the notion of creating an exclusive power center in the post-Soviet space. Like other former European empires, Russia has no choice but to reinvent itself as a global player and as part of a wider community.
States of the Euro-Atlantic security community share basic interests and depend on one another for security, economic prosperity, and human development. To address modern security challenges, these states must revitalize the institutional foundations of their shared security community.
Without a continued NATO presence in Afghanistan to facilitate a regional approach to resolving the problems facing the country, the creation of a stable security situation in Afghanistan is impossible.
The 20 years that have passed since the Soviet Union’s collapse have shown that the former Soviet republics are capable of developing and strengthening their independence and economy, as well as integrating into global and regional processes, even as Russia continues its transition from an empire to a great power.
The Arab Spring has more in common with events in Sub-Saharan Africa in the 1990s than Central and Eastern Europe in 1989. The impact of events in the Middle East for states outside the region will depend on the legitimacy and adaptability of their regimes.
The Arab Spring is likely to have little to no impact on the political situation in the countries of Central Asia and may even serve the governments there as a cautionary warning to their citizens against social upheaval and turmoil.
The major social and economic problems that sparked the Arab Spring have not been addressed, making it likely that there will be a second round of unrest that could bring about a surge in the power of Islamic radicals or the establishment of new authoritarian regimes.
In his speech, President Obama laid out a less ambitious approach to the war in Afghanistan that abandons the long-term goals of nation building in favor of improved intelligence, special forces, drone attacks, and a smaller footprint in country.
The international community should focus on pressing the Kyrgyz government to respect the basic human rights of all their citizens and emphasize the importance of equality and accountability before the law.