U.S.- Russia Relations

The purpose of this research is to examine the existing bilateral relationship between the US and Russia. It focuses on the likely causes of the two countries' relationship deterioration. The paper also discusses the relevance of US-Russian ties and policy recommendations for dealing with deteriorating relations. Many causes contribute to the two countries' poor relationship. These elements are Russian inversion into Ukraine, Crimea annexation, Russian relaxation in applying economic sanctions on Iran, Russian view that America is targeting them in its military actions, and cyber-attacks, including election hacking with the purpose of altering outcomes. Despite many issues of confrontation, the main issues that have created division among these countries are the invasion and abuse of the sovereignty of Ukraine by Russia and the recent hacking of election results by Russia.

Recommendations

The relationship between the US and Russia is vital in ensuring stability and order. This report provides policy recommendations necessary to manage the relationship and prevent Russian aggression. They are as follows.

Act to reduce mutual suspicion with Russia - US government should look for a specific measure of building confidence. Such actions include agreeing to broad measures of arms control that are transparent.

Increase the ability to control escalation in a crisis - the US should endeavor to establish a military to military communication on managing the escalating crisis.

Prepare NATO to respond to new provocations - designing contingency plans for military and non-military actions on affected countries.

Focus on increasing European stability against Russian Economic pressure through providing energy and ensuring economic and political development.

Background of the US - Russia Relations

The relationship between USA and Russia has been deteriorating sharply. The soaring of the relationship between these two powerful countries has been rising mainly due to a barrage of disagreements and accusations from both states (Ziegler, 2014). Russia has accused the USA of blocking money from World Bank and international monetary funds to Russian projects. The USA also recently accused Russia of hacking its electoral system with the aim of influencing the vote’s outcome. The main issue at stake between these nations includes competing for military activities in Syria, cyber breaches, and a dispute over the independence of Eastern Europe. The Russian Annexation of Crimea and crisis in Ukraine have a significant influence on the US view of Russia (Saluschev, 2014). Russia has consistently made policies that are a counterpoint to the US policy and those of NATO.

The crisis in Ukraine has become one of the aspects that have had a significant influence on the two nation relationship since the end of cold war (Legvold, 2016). The crisis that arose due to Russia – Ukraine disputes and other internal factors within Ukraine has serious repercussion on the US and stability of Europe (Ziegler, 2014). Recently, the USA has accused Russia of hacking its elections to influence the votes. The event has even worsened further the already existing soar relationship. Thus, the USA must make strategic policies’ aims to prevent the tension and embrace peaceful coexistence. The USA must find a way to protect it friends and allies from Russia’s aggressive attack. It must also implement policies aimed at modifying Russian attitude and behavior without condoning Russia’s actions toward the USA and other nations in Europe, such as Ukraine (Cazacu, 2015). The US must act from appointing of a sustained resolve and elusive objective with democracy in her minds.

Enduring Importance of Russia to the United States and the Globe

The United States has been focused on countering the rise of ISIS (Islamic State), wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and growth of China as a superpower. However, all these moves should not obscure the importance of Russia. Russia is a perpetual member of the United Nation Security Council, as such, it can help the US in ensuring international order and stability. The relationship between these countries is one of the most significant factors in an attempt to create a stable and peaceful world. Russia remains a powerful influence on all the main international issues affecting the US (Delahunty, 2014). Russia interest affects the major areas of the United States international engagement, such as Asia-pacific, Europe, and the Middle East. Russia has also harbored the largest nuclear weapons for any adversary. It can even destroy the United States as an operative society in just a few hours.

Furthermore, Russia is not only vital to the stability of the world. The country shares many particular interests in security with the US. Both the USA and Russia share an interest in strategic stability, though the definition of strategic stability differs between them. The countries security interest includes limiting arm race, controlling proliferation in North Korea and Iran, dealing with the rise in Chinese influence, integrating Russia into the world economy, assertiveness, and in countering the Islamic States (Stent, 2015). Earlier, the United States and Russia cooperated in combating terrorism, nuclear weapons, and in space exploration. However, recently things seem to be falling apart after Russia withdrew from the nuclear pact.

Despite the significance of the relationship between these two important States, Russian foreign policies differ from that of the United States in many ways. Firstly, even though Russia is concerned about the influence and rise of China and its potential military control, the country has opted to cooperate with Chinese. The United States has opposed Chinese aggressive actions in the maritime domain (William et al., 2009). Russia believes China will not be intimidated by any of its allies. Besides, Russia sees cooperation with China has a way to outweigh the United States of America. Secondly, Russia holds the ground that its security, honor, and prestige depend on the strict bound they impose on the policies and sovereignty of its neighboring nations. Russian, thus, still upheld the doctrine of Brezhnev employed in the cold war era. Russia has used this tactic in Georgia and Ukraine and other states. Russian government holds that they must protect their citizens wherever they live, even if it involves violating other nation’s sovereignty (Delahunty, 2014). The US opposed such actions, and this has been the main reason of deteriorating relationship between Russia and the US about Syria and Ukraine.

Thirdly, the US and Russia have differed sharply on the strategy to be employed in countering proliferation in Iran. Russia opposes the idea that Iran is connected with nuclear weapon (William et al., 2009). It has even limited it non-proliferation deals with Iran, such as canceling of the sales of weapons. However, Russia has been less aggressive than the USA in applying economic sanctions to Iran and any other pressure to Iran in preventing the country from the production of nuclear power. Russia has been focusing on the commercial advantage that Iran offers, especially in the Middle East (Stent, 2015). The objective of Russia is to control the Middle East, and Iran plays and important role in this mission. Finally, the countries differ on how they view each other. For example, Russia sees the United States ballistic missile defense in Europe as aimed to diminish their potential retaliatory. It views the US actions as malicious and aimed at destroying its nuclear power. Russian President, Putin, also opposed NATO expansion. Russia was particularly annoyed when NATO announced that Georgia and Ukraine would become members of NATO (Mankoff, 2011). However, the United States did not recognize Russian military threat until the Ukrainian crisis emerged.

Even though these countries have confronted each other in many issues, the USA has attempted to forge a shared interest and forge a relationship to do away with the cold-war-kind of confrontation (Legvold, 2016). However, recent emerging accusation and counter accusation mentions on the onset of this discussion, such as election hack, sanction, and blockage of funds from World Bank and international monetary fund, clearly indicate that the two countries are still far from any productive new relationship (Ziegler, 2014). However, due to the strategic importance of the relationship between these nations, it is important that the United States looks into the long run and continues to seek a way to determine shared interest and forge a relationship.

Russia’s Growing Cause of Concern

Despite its strategic importance to the United States and the rest of globe, Russian assertiveness and aggressiveness remain a significant cause of concern not only to the United States but to the globe at large. Russian events in Ukraine and partially in Crimea crisis clearly indicate that the nation is an impediment for creating peace and stability in the world, a mission that the United States aim to achieve (Saluschev, 2014). Even though the crisis in Ukraine is not fundamentally related to Russia and the United States, it must be viewed as a consequence of the rising hostility of President Putin on the western nations, and particularly the US. There has been much recent concern about Russia assertiveness (Ziegler, 2014). In 2008 Russia launched military actions in Georgia and asserted that South Ossetia and Abkhazia should be independent nations. Later in 2010, under their military doctrine, Russia declared the US and NATO as the biggest threat to their security.

Besides, in the recent past, President Putin called himself a leader of that embraced traditional forces and opposed to Western values that act in the disinterest of western cultures and values. Furthermore, Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 (Saluschev, 2014). This was the first occurrence of annexation since the Second World War came to an end. Russia went against Budapest Memorandum and Helsinki Final Act of 1994 that called for respect for other nation’s boundaries and sovereignty. Russia also has continued to offer military support for separatism in Eastern Ukraine through the provision of military weapons and military inversion in Ukrainian land. Finally, Russia has violated its obligation under INF treaty of not producing, possessing, or flight test cruise missile within 500 to 5500 km.

Despite the close linkage of Ukraine and Georgia to Russia and NATO dispute too, it is not prudent to characterize these nations under this conflict. It is vital to note that the situation between Russia and this country arose due to the conflict between Russia and Soviet republics. However, this conflict has grave consequences on NATO countries security. Russia triggered the events in Ukraine and Georgia due to fear that this nation would join NATO as members and this would integrate them economically or military to the western countries. The Russian were afraid that any linkage between the US and the two nations would empower them and, thus, make uncontrollable (Mankoff, 2011). So, Russian government was willing to use whatever pressure or force to assert what they believe is wrong. Russians’ actions affect the interest of western nations, including the US and other NATO allies.

One fundamental reason why Russia is against western countries, such as the US, is internal policy. Just like in any country of the world, Russia’s domestic, political, and international policies are interlinked. The overwhelming popularity of Russian President, Putin, is due to the increased and sustained growth of Russian economy and prosperity among Russian citizen (Cazacu, 2015). However, the economy of Russia has slightly declined to lead to resistance. Thus, the Russian administration is trying to impose authoritarian rule with an objective to increase external threat and encourage citizens to fight for their nation. However, the hatred toward the west is not merely domestic. Russia attempts to depict the US as an enemy of Russian culture and traditions.

Recommendation and Response Policy

This report cannot provide conclusion response action for Russian actions involving Crisis in Ukraine, election hacking, and other cyber-attacks. An appropriate response strategy will depend on the ongoing assessment of the countries actions. However, there are certain plans that the US can continue to employ to respond to Russia’s actions and build a formidable relationship between these two nations.

Act to Reduce Mutual Suspicion with Russia

It is hard to achieve a genuine and exceptional relationship between Russia and the US because Russia believes that the US is an enemy whose aim is to destabilize it and render it vulnerable to attacks. For example, the Russian believe that ballistic missile defense, precision cruise missiles, and prompt global strikes designed by the US for non-Russian contingencies are part of the US strategy to strike on Russia and reduce its military power. Besides, Russian government believed that the United States aims to change Russian government through revolution (Stent, 2015). They blame the US for the democratic revolution in Central Europe and claim that the US is planning such revolution in Russia. Thus, solving Ukrainian crisis, Crimea crisis, and use of other approaches would not yield the desired result unless trust is built between the two nations. The United States can only achieve long-term strategic friendship and stability by dissuading Russia from these views. Mere statements of affirmation of no hostility against Russia cannot be enough to earn Russian trust because they failed in the past. Therefore, the US government should look for a specific measure of building confidence. Such measures will involve more actions than mere statements (William et al., 2009). They may include agreeing to broad measures of arms control that are transparent. It may also call on the US to provide Russia with future arms procurement plan and make an agreement of not changing the set plans without proper notification.

Increase the Ability to Control Escalation in a Crisis

One important factor in the management of stability is the capacity to manage and handle crises and prevent them from escalating appropriately. Both the United States and Russia’s innovation and modernization in the military have made prevention of escalation of crises difficult. With such modernization, the greater possibility exists that each state will misjudge the operation of each other during a crisis. To minimize the effect, it is vital for the US and Russia to rebuild military to military contact on issues of security and to maintain and enhance the political and technical process of communication during the crisis (Stent, 2015). As an effort to ensure contact and proper communication, the US should endeavor to establish a military to military communication on managing the escalating crisis. This approach may include table top strategy on managing the crises. In an event Russia refuses to cooperate in such discussion, the US can seek unofficial dialogue to solve the matter.

US Should Prepare NATO to Respond to New Provocations

The annexation of Crimea from Ukraine was carried out by Russia in a professional manner. The country used his military forces and the limited support from the ground to take control over Crimea from Ukraine. The annexation led to instability in Ukraine and Crimea. The US can stop such kind of malicious attack on other nation’s allies only through combined effort from internal and external security (Mankoff, 2011). Even though there is no existing evidence that Russia plans to annex another territory, NATO needs to prepare itself against such future occurrences, and the US should lead the way in designing such strategies. Military actions may not produce the desired results, and the best move may simply be non-military. However, even non-military would require internal defense of the potential nation. Even though NATO is responsible for contingency planning, designing robust internal defenses of a given states may be challenging and requires the different institution of the allied nations.

Focus on Increasing European Stability against Russian Economic Pressure

Most countries in Europe depend on Russia for economic stability. They rely on Energy from Russia. Thus, they cannot resolve against Russian aggression because they fear sanctions (Cazacu, 2015). In the short term dependence on Russia cannot be eliminated. However, to prevent such dominance in the future, the US should help its allies to limit the leverage of Russia over European countries. The US should increase energy diversity in Europe through exportation of Liquefied natural gas. However, since 30% of energy originates from Russia, replacing this amount of energy with liquefied gas will need massive investment and time. It is also prudent to help Ukraine develop its economy and politics.











References

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Legvold, R. (2016). Return to Cold War. Cambridge; Malden, MA: Polity Press.

Mankoff, J. (2011). Russian foreign policy: The return of great power politics. Lanham, Md: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

Saluschev, S. (2014). Annexation of Crimea: Causes, Analysis and Global Implications. Global Societies Journal, 2.

Stent, A. E. (2015). The Limits of Partnership: U.S.-Russian Relations in the Twenty-First Century. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

William B. Ruger Chair Workshop, Lloyd, R. M., & Naval War College (U.S.). (2009). American foreign policy: Regional perspectives. Newport, R.I: Naval War College.

Ziegler, C. E. (2014). Russian–American relations: From Tsarism to Putin. International Politics, 51(6), 671-692.