Thoughts on Russia

June 5th, 2004 by drg

By DRG
FJRP Columnist

Moscow, Russian Federation, June 5—After the attack on America, Russia and the U.S. have arguably come closer in relations that ever before in the past. Vladimir Putin was among the first heads of states to offer support for the war against terrorism and has since become a vital ally. Putin allowed the United States military to station troops in former Soviet republics such as Uzbekistan and Kyrgystan, despite Russian fear of U.S. involvement in traditional Russian areas of influence. The two states have signed a nuclear arms reduction treaty that will reduce the number of atomic weapons by two-thirds. Russia has increased its participation in organizations such as NATO and the WTO. Putin has allowed the former Soviet republics in the Baltic to include themselves in the western military alliance.

U.S. and Russian relations should continue to grow. The war on terrorism is a conflict that both the United States and Russia face on a daily basis. Both states will need intelligence and military support for future operations against terror threats around the world. Russia will be an important partner for NATO expansion and could see its role increase in the military alliance. Nuclear arsenals, resulting from decades of Cold War tensions, have to be continually addressed with reduction as the priority. Russia’s oil reserves may provide the United States an energy option that reduces its dependence on the Middle East or OPEC.

None of these U.S. interests can be achieved if the Russian Federation does not have a stable government. Vladimir Putin has, in the past four years, managed to achieve relative order where the rule of law was too often based on Yeltsin’s decrees. Fears of impeachment, a communist take-over or a nationalist coup all seem to be irrational in today’s Russia. While promoting democracy is important, scolding behind a podium in Washington is not helpful. Russia has, after all, come a long way since the introduction of glasnost and perestroika. U.S.-Russian relations are not only good bilaterally, but also for the entire world. We must therefore not lose sight of this when developing future policy.