Carnegie Moscow Center
Russia’s supply of natural gas could hold the answer to Europe’s energy challenge, but a successful partnership between Russia and Europe will require greater mutual trust.
Confronting the global challenges in 2011, from the ongoing war in Afghanistan and a rising China to continuing international economic turmoil, will require an understanding how much has changed and the extent to which the center of gravity in global power has shifted.
The civil nuclear cooperation deal, or 123 agreement, will greatly improve the ability of both Russia and the United States to prevent proliferation and it will advance mutual interests, improve relations, and deliver on the promise of the reset.
Good relations between Russia and China, promoted by economic and political cooperation, are one of the major and most valued aspects of Moscow's current foreign policy.
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.
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.