Carnegie Moscow Center
If the “reset” in U.S.-Russia relations does not help achieve a genuine movement towards Russia’s political liberalization, then it risks legitimizing the Kremlin's system of personalized power.
The results of the American midterm elections, held on November 2, could have an impact on the U.S.-Russia relationship and on key agenda items, including New START, the 123 agreement, and Russia’s accession to the WTO.
The recent summit between France, Germany, and Russia led to no major developments, but it laid the path toward further improving Russia’s relations with its neighbors and toward a serious discussion about creating a security community spanning North America, Europe, and Russia.
To promote political change in Moscow, the West must hold Russia’s elite accountable and provide incentives to help encourage true democratic behavior in Russia.
Prominent Russian political scientist Georgy Arbatov, founder and first director of the Institute for U.S. and Canada Studies and a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, passed away on October 1, 2010. He was 87.
There are significant arenas for military cooperation between Russia and the United States, including enforcing stability in Afghanistan and fighting against international terrorism.
While obstacles remain, the conditions are looking good for launching the negotiation process between Russia, the United States, and Europe on the creation of a joint missile defense system for the entire Euro-Atlantic region.
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.
If Russia wants to be a principal security provider and peace guarantor in the CIS space, it will need to refocus its strategy away from resisting NATO's drive and U.S. deployments and toward conflict prevention and conflict resolution.
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.