Russia and the United States. Continuation of the Cold War?

The problem of protection from missile attack came after the German attack missiles "FAA" in London in 1944. After consideration of the possible methods of defense against attack missiles, the real way to protect the use of missiles was recognized. Current opinion believed that the creation of any nuclear power system of effective missile defense gave her the opportunity to hatch plans to destroy the enemy with impunity. Therefore, simultaneously with the deployment of missile defense negotiations were conducted on the limitation of cover that would be a deterrent against nuclear attack from any side. Although developments in the field of defense served as a catalyst in the development of scientific and technical capacity of countries, but also lay a heavy burden on their economies. At all stages of the negotiations between the leaders of U.S. and Soviet first, and then Russian leaders on reducing missile defense mistrust prevented the development of a mutually acceptable position. Distrust was caused by the following considerations: - The Russian side was constantly in catch-up role in the development of missile defense facilities (remember President Reagan's proposal for a program of "Star Wars"); - Constant combat readiness of the missile arsenals of both countries in the regime of counter-retaliation - this leads to the need to maintain a balance between the defensive system and the strategic nuclear forces of each party; - The U.S. believes that Russia is the only country that has an arsenal capable of destroying America; - When discussing the joint development of missile defense systems, the U.S. requires that the management of this single system has been transferred to it, that does not suit Russia. Plans to deploy missile defense systems in Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Israel, Turkey and Czech Republic are part of the new U.S. strategy to establish the closest to Russia's borders tier missile defense system that violates the existing strategic balance of forces. In order to implement this strategy, the United States at a meeting of defense ministers of NATO decided to deploy four warships at a military base in Spain, which will be an integral part of U.S. missile defense system in Europe. This means that Madrid is also attached to the missile defense system. Cruisers are equipped not only radars, interceptor missiles and SM-3, control systems, "Aegis." This system not only controls the anti-aircraft fire, and anti-submarine rockets and shock. Upgrading the system will intercept ballistic missile warheads. This confirms the fact that any one of these cruisers easily rearranged under subject of missile defense. Operate these floating object missile defense system will be in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, the Greenland, Barents and Norwegian Seas and the North Atlantic. From all this we can conclude that the goal of deploying a missile defense system in Spain - is coverage of Russian territory, the military-technical means of the U.S. missile defense. And while American president, Barack Obama argues that the placement of additional equipment missile defense in Europe due to the threat of attack by countries such as Iran, the Russian side claims that the circuit arrangement of missile defense facilities around the Russian border poses a security risk is Russia. Capacity-building in Europe missile and a lack of being directed against a missile defense system formed by the Russian strategic forces is justified concern in Moscow. When deploying a missile defense system in Europe, the U.S. uses so-called strategy of "fait accompli" when the action is without taking into account the views of interested parties. Such a practice violates the stability and security of all European countries. If you continue to strengthen the U.S. missile defense in third countries, the ability to move from confrontation to cooperation will be missed, and Russia will be forced to take counter-measures to protect its nuclear forces, strategic purpose. The U.S. confirm the continuation of the "cold war" against Russia. In this connection, the purchase of weapons to equip the Russian army in NATO - it's like, what to buy weapons from the enemy, fighting with them. It is surprising action by the Ministry of Defense procurement of foreign weapons, then how to invest in its military-industrial complex to protect the country from external threats. In response, Russia needs to increase the combat potential of groups to the Navy in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, the shock of whose components are able to destroy foreign ships missile defense system, deployed off the coast of Russia. To do this, to upgrade the cruise ended and increase the combat readiness of katernogo composition, especially of small missile ships, repair and re-equip the destroyers. Abandon the purchase of French ships of the "Mistral". At the conclusion of military experts, the ships of the "Mistral" is applied only when the seizure of foreign territories, and for the defense they are not needed. Required to increase the efficiency of the military budget at the expense of supporting the Russian military-industrial complex and the rejection of foreign purchases of military equipment, including the purchase of four ships of the "Mistral". Although the agreements the two ships of the "Mistral" will be built at Russian shipyards, all of the "filling" of these ships will be delivered from France. Failure of any node in the period of operation (and possibly under combat conditions) of this sophisticated equipment, no Russian expert will not be able to return to it serviceability. A successful attempt to create an effective missile defense system the United States can create an illusion of invulnerability, and under certain conditions, to push the human tragedy - the use of nuclear weapons.

Russia has a value of

The proper starting point in thinking about American national interests with regard to Russia is the direct question: why Russia is important? How can Russia affect vital interests of America and the extent to which Russia should worry the United States? What place does Russia occupies in the hierarchy of American national interests? According to the conclusion contained in the report of the American national interest (2000), Russia is among the few countries whose actions can greatly affect the vital interests of America. Why? • First, Russia - this is a very big country, bringing together some strategically important regions. By virtue of its size and geographical location, it is a key player in Europe and the Middle East, Central, South and East Asia. Accordingly, Moscow could seriously alleviate or, conversely, to undermine U.S. efforts to address both immediate (in particular, the situation around North Korea and Iran) as well as longer-term (Iraq and Afghanistan) problems. In addition, Russia has the longest land border in the world with China - a rising great power that their actions can significantly affect both U.S. and Russian interests. The main point is that while Moscow has lost much of its former power after the Cold War, it still has a greater geopolitical clout than London or Paris. • Second, as the successor of the Soviet Union, Russia has relations with countries that remain out of reach for the American government, whether in the Middle East, Central Asia or other regions. In Russia, well aware of what is happening in these states. Russian intelligence and / or Russian leverage in these areas could significantly assist America in opposition to the current, emerging and not yet manifested strategic challenges, including the war on terrorism. • Third, today as in the foreseeable future, nuclear weapons Russia can inflict enormous damage to the United States. Fortunately, the probability of these scenarios has fallen sharply since the Cold War. Yet today, as well as in the very distant future, the continued vital U.S. interest will lie in the fact that this weapon was not used against America or our allies. • Fourth, from the Russian side needed a reliable control of the world's largest arsenal of nuclear warheads and the stock of radioactive materials suitable for nuclear weapons. This is necessary to combat the threat posed by "stray radioactive materials." The implementation of effective programs to Russia to prevent the theft of these weapons by criminals, terrorists and selling it later against the Americans is in U.S. interests. • Fifth, the Russian stock, technology and knowledge of the biological and chemical weapons make cooperation with Moscow is extremely important to the United States that seek to prevent the spread of these weapons. In addition, cooperation with Russia can prevent a hostile U.S. States to get advanced conventional weapon systems, such as rockets and submarines. • The sixth reason is that, being the largest producer and exporter of hydrocarbons (oil and gas) in the world, Russia provides an opportunity to diversify America and build up reserves of energy or energy neblizhnevostochnyh, which are produced by non-OPEC countries. • And finally, the seventh cause: a permanent member of UN Security Council, have veto power, Russia can significantly facilitate or complicate U.S. efforts to work through the UN and other international institutions to advance its other critical interests. At a time when many in the world is concerned about America's use of his power, cooperation with Russia may actually contribute to the success of U.S. efforts to achieve global leadership. In a broader sense, the close ties between the U.S. and Russia can become a deterrent to other states, which in this case can not be regarded Moscow as a potential source of political support. [...] Why Russia is opposed by the United States Russia has not only refused to support U.S. policy in Iraq, but actively opposed it. Although we believe that Moscow has made a gross strategic blunder in this matter, he also was the result of missteps in American policy toward Russia. [...] Moscow's position on Iraq was not objectively predetermined: in fact, initially inclined to believe the Kremlin is to tacitly agree with U.S. plans for Iraq. Russian officials have learned from the events of 1999, when the vain resistance of Boris Yeltsin's plans to launch air strikes against Serbia only highlighted the weakness of Moscow, and the fact that the UN (in which Russia could play a key role) was pushed to the periphery of the political process due to utmost concern to the European situation in Kosovo. To avoid this negative outcome of debates over Iraq, Putin's administration for some time been ready to soberly compare their concerns about the use of American forces at risk isolating themselves from the U.S. and seriously damage changing for the better relations with Washington and not stopping the war with . However, the tightening of the Russian position and Moscow's decision to go for confrontation with the United States was a serious miscalculation not only the Kremlin. Partly it was due to three errors in American politics. The first of these was the failure to aggressively pursue the location of Russia. It seems that American officials had excessive optimism about the fact that they are easily able to obtain the consent of Russia: firstly, because of the improving bilateral relations, and secondly, because of the close personal relationship between Presidents Bush and Putin. For this reason, the White House has spent enough effort to find a formula to avoid active opposition to U.S. policy on the part of Russia. And in Moscow there were several signals that such a formula would have any chance of success if the diplomats approached the issue more creatively, and have paid her more attention. Apparently, U.S. officials have spent much less time in meetings and telephone talks with their Russian counterparts than to communicate with the leaders of France and Germany. This made it easier for Paris and Berlin are actively Kremlin bowed to his side. A second problem was too slow deepening of US-Russian relations. The returns, which Russia has received from this process was insufficient to Moscow was positive with special benefits America. In fact, the Russian foreign policy establishment is growing discontent "sidedness" of US-Russian relations. Russian foreign policy community has responded to the painful half-hearted consent of the Kremlin with the expansion of NATO, the U.S. withdrawal from the ABM Treaty and the establishment of U.S. military bases in former Soviet Central Asian republics. Although the notorious Jackson - Vanik amendment has minimal impact on bilateral trade, its very existence was in the eyes of Russians symbol of how little the White House is ready to do for Russia. Patient attitude to Russia's complex - resentment and suspicion, which is a relic of the Cold War and due to a sharp weakening of the relative and absolute power of Russia - is the need of American politics. Russian complexes with respect to the United States may view a variety of ways to distort the actions of America in Moscow, and they should be treated with understanding, if the U.S. wants to interact more effectively with Russia. But America should not try to solve this problem with the concessions that could harm our interests. Such concessions are not only prevented the U.S. would achieve its goals, but, in contrast, would have consolidated some of the Russian systems, creating the false impression that Moscow has some leverage over Washington. The inability to adequately treat these complexes contributed to strengthening differences in views of America and Russia to "one-sidedness" of their relationship, reinforcing distrust the intentions of the United States last. In carrying out policy toward Russia should be America also understand that the Russian leaders and elites share the concerns of other countries about the fact that the extent of American power is much superior to the other actors in world politics. Russia is concerned that the United States are accountable only to the leaders and voters, in regard to some important aspects of the use of "soft" power in the economic and cultural spheres, they are not accountable to anyone at all. These concerns need to listen, they must be understood and possibly remedied. To this end, efforts should be directed to the fact that the international community to seek legitimacy for our actions. If necessary, we must directly and clearly, giving the most convincing arguments to explain why our interests are so important that they require unilateral action. Ultimately, however, the U.S. must help the Russian understand that the development of fruitful relations with the United States they will have to get rid of their complexes (and abandon some of the claims). Many of the Russian elite has priznayuЂt that is unrealistic to expect symmetry in the relationship are no longer symmetrical. A third weakness in the Bush administration's policy toward Russia - the inability to set priorities, rather, consistently implement them. In establishing the hierarchy of American interests in relations with Moscow, the Bush administration has made more successful than the Clinton team, she also manages to more effectively follow the hierarchy. However, American officials often continue to operate to the detriment of their interests. One example of wrong priorities identified is the excessive support by the State Department multilateral regional organization GUUAM, which includes Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Moldova. Even when a White House seeks to establish a strategic partnership with Moscow, the State Department urges disgruntled members of the GUUAM (originally association was created to counter Russia) not to leave the organization and provides substantial financial assistance. It is one thing - support the efforts of governments - to create GUUAM regional organization, and quite another - forcing some governments to remain members of this organization, which, in their opinion, does not serve the interests of their countries. Such tactics inevitably irritated Russian officials and forces them to worry about U.S. intentions with respect to countries - former republics of the Soviet Union, while at the same time, it almost does not give anything in return the United States. American interest in GUUAM due to concern about the pipeline, laid in a region where at present there is a rapid event. Similarly, despite the efforts made by Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze (the report was written before 23 November 2003, when Shevardnadze resigned. - Ed.), The United States should not allow themselves to draw the Georgian-Russian debate over Abkhazia. Moscow's official position on this issue, recently announced by President Putin, is reduced to what Russia calls for Georgia's territorial integrity and protect the rights of Abkhazians in this country. However, the Abkhazians did not want to remain part of Georgia. This is a very complicated and sensitive issue, and Washington should declare the obvious: that he stands for peaceful resolution of the dispute, which can reduce the tension in the region. You have to be careful not to make further steps, unless circumstances change. It must be understood and Russian priorities. Obviously, for Moscow's most important oil contracts in Iraq and nuclear cooperation with Iran. Still, the greatest concern to Russia former Soviet space - in particular, Ukraine (her very close historical ties with Russia, and, moreover, is home to most large Russian minority), as well as unstable new states of Transcaucasia and Central Asia. Susceptibility of Russia to everything going on in these countries, partly because of its nostalgia, but it's important and what bChlshaya of these regions directly bordering with Russia. The United States must be prepared, if necessary, do in this part of the world all that is necessary to protect vital American interests, regardless of the position of Russia. However, one can hardly recognize the vital U.S. interest in the existence or dissolution of an organization such as GUUAM. Attempts to keep this organization in spite of the obvious will of some of its members causes damage to the US-Russian relations. These efforts can be detrimental to U.S. interests more important - in part because they consolidate the worst instincts of some representatives of the Russian armed forces and security agencies, on which depends in part on the successful cooperation. Russian officials themselves say that the irritation caused by these and other U.S. actions in the immediate vicinity of the southern borders of Russia, weakened their desire to support Washington's policy in Iraq. [...] American political strategists have systematically underestimated the impact that the presence and actions of the U.S. in countries bordering Russia have both on the formation of Russian ideas about power and to the United States and the credibility of Russia to America. U.S. behavior in the region, promotes awareness of its role as Russia as a regional power. Support for the independence and integrity of the countries - former republics of the Soviet Union is important, but Washington should not create a false impression that its purpose - to encircle Russia from all sides, or limit its ability to provide a legitimate influence in the region to achieve a justifiable purpose. Really need to regulate the interests, intentions and actions of the U.S. post-Soviet space, and clearly explains to what they are. We need to better explain why the military operations in Central Asia eliminate the terrorist threat, benefiting both Russia and around the world. Finally, we need a more convincing form to repeat the statement made earlier that Russia threatening a permanent military presence in this region is not our goal. Economic cooperation Development of US-Russian economic cooperation should feature prominently in the agenda of relations between the U.S. and Russia. If U.S. officials want Moscow to be serious about the obligations of the United States, President Bush must first solve the problem of restrictions under the Jackson - Vanik Amendment. Russian officials claim that the amendment would adversely affect political relations between both countries and on the atmosphere of bilateral economic talks. Clinton administration and Bush has repeatedly promised Russia to take decisive steps in this direction, but no action was taken. In fact, the U.S. is still trying to use the Jackson - Vanik as leverage in negotiations with Russia on other issues. What has been promised, should not be linked with other issues. President, the Minister of Trade and other senior officials should personally make efforts to develop bilateral trade with Russia, including activating the exchange of trade delegations to the highest level.

The U.S. should continue to support Russia's accession to the WTO, although at this stage, the problem primarily lies in how Russia meets certain criteria. At the same time the Bush administration should put pressure on the Russian government and implement the necessary measures in the United States, in order to better provide for both countries of mutual and equitable access to markets. Given that Russia would cooperate in the reconstruction of Iraq, the United States needs to encourage the emerging Iraqi government take kindly to those oil contracts with Russia, which do not contravene international law and beneficial to Iraq.

Russia and the United States dropped a load restart

And preparing for a new confrontation

By the end of this year, it became clear that after several years of exemplary friendship, Moscow and Washington have returned to more familiar to a relationship of distrust. Fell out of their plans for the deployment in Europe of U.S. missile defense system, which the U.S. and NATO flatly refuse to build with Russia. The parties are still hoping to avoid confrontation, but do not do this for practically nothing.


The failure of the US-Russia reset, which is so proud of her running the Presidents Dmitry Medvedev and Barack Obama, became the main result of the year between the two countries. During the exponential of friendship that the two leaders stressed at every opportunity, Russia and the United States, perhaps the first really close to the level of partner relations. They just barely, but agreed on a new treaty on reducing strategic offensive arms and ratified it. Moscow and Washington are surprisingly consistently acted in relation to third countries - supported by the UN Security Council sanctions against Iran and denounced the regime with Qaddafi in Libya. Moreover, abstained in the UN Security Council for resolution 1973, authorizing the use of any methods of influence on Tripoli, but the ground intervention, Moscow, in fact, untied the hands of the West, who began a military operation in Libya.

"There's no one to talk" Vladimir Putin commented on possible contacts with the opposition

When Barack Obama in January 2009 became president of the Russian-American relations were tense and very complex. Agreements on arms control were on the verge of collapse, and co-operation came to replace the sharp conflicts. So much so, that some observers, including Mikhail Gorbachev, announced the launch of a new Cold War. Although these estimates may seem like an exaggeration, the tension between the two former superpowers has been really powerful, especially under President George W. Bush. In Bush's first term, for example, the United States has consistently worked to enlarge NATO and the approach to block Russia's borders. At the same time completely ignored the promise of George Bush to Gorbachev that NATO would refrain from moving to the east beyond the reunited Germany. And when the U.S. unilaterally adopted in June 2002 decision to withdraw from the ABM treaty, the cooperation started continue to weaken and crumble. ABM Treaty was considered the basis for nuclear safety in Russia. As stated Vladimir Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev, the Kremlin felt that he was "deceived and betrayed."

But when President Obama took office, Washington, as it seemed, was ready to recognize the seriousness of the deterioration of relations with Russia. In 2009, Obama said that "reset" relations with Moscow will be a priority of his foreign policy.

As noted in the World Politics Review, the most obvious improvement in US-Russian relations today is to change the tone of communication. Statements by Moscow and Washington are much more conciliatory in nature. Obama and Medvedev are common with each other and seem to relish the opportunity to appear in the image of the president-minded. Responding to questions about the restart, each emphasizes its progress and results as evidence of their personal friendship. In a rare interview with the Financial Times in June this year, Medvedev has sought to publicly acknowledge the fact that the Russian-American relations have greatly improved thanks to the efforts of the two administrations. He noted that work with Obama, it's easy, and added: "I'd like to see Barack Obama a second time, was elected as President of the United States, more than perhaps anyone else." During the current July 7 interview with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made the state TV channel "Russia 24", he said the United States has become "more reliable, more predictable, more consistent partner."

However, improvements are not limited to only one change of tone. So far, Obama and Medvedev approved a new START-3 for nuclear disarmament and agreed on an interim basis for cooperation on missile defense, which was one of the main sources of friction between the two countries in the Bush era. After the July visit of Minister Lavrov in Washington the White House announced that Obama actively supports Russia's bid to join the World Trade Organization (WTO). Having made a rare step for a leader, not a head of state, Lavrov met with Obama and discussed a wide range of issues - from human to adopt to Libya and Syria. The result was an agreement on adoption, which he signed with the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. It includes a provision stating that the organization of adoptions in Russia can only deal with those agencies that are approved by Moscow. This agreement was concluded in connection with the powerful reaction of indignation over the fact that a woman from Tennessee "back" of her adopted seven children back to Russia, where he flew there, without any accompaniment. During the visit, Lavrov, he and Clinton reiterated that the United States and Russia will continue to deal with disposing of weapons-grade plutonium. In addition, an agreement was signed on simplification of visa regime.

However, rebooting Obama has been limited. Key issues such as missile defense and NATO expansion, have not been solved and remains a source of irritation, and politicians from both parties oppose the deepening of bilateral ties. But there is still time to make the Obama administration confidently pressed the reset button.

Who betrays whom?

One of the major impediments to progress in US-Russian relations, a force of political opposition in Washington and Moscow. In Washington, many Republican lawmakers in Congress criticized the administration for its attempts at rapprochement with Medvedev, continually expressing concern about human rights violations in Russia. So, after a hearing on the administration of Republican politics restart from Florida Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Ileana Ros-Lehtinen), who heads the House committee on foreign affairs, said that "Russia day by day more and more takes the Stalinist guise." "The administration should put an end to a string of concessions to Moscow regime, since they do not lead to increased cooperation with the U.S." - she said. More recently, Ros-Lehtinen promised to block Russia's WTO accession. Her statements echo the New American Cold War hawks who continually act to attack Obama on reboot, and sometimes even to compare it with the Nazi-Soviet pact of 1939. According to an article in Nation Steven Cohen (Stephen F. Cohen), in the absence of "countervailing pro-Russian lobby and substantial Russian-American economic relations that can support the restart," Obama's policy towards Russia is extremely vulnerable to attack.

Supporters reset in Moscow are also faced with no less sharp criticism. Using stamps Cold War, many believe attempts at rapprochement by the Obama ploy, aimed at further intervention in the affairs of Russia. Even President Medvedev declared enemy of the state for his friendliness toward Washington. Its March decision to abstain from voting on the air in the NATO bombing of Libya by many, and in the first place, the former Russian ambassador to that country, Vladimir Chamov, regarded as a "betrayal" of Russian interests. In fact, open American support for candidates Medvedev in the presidential election in 2012 has caused dissatisfaction over U.S. interference in the internal affairs of Russia. In other words, the personal friendship of presidents has not led to broad support for the bilateral relations by the political class in Russia.

While Medvedev did not "betray" Russia's interests, cooperation on equal terms is not happening. In fact, one of the main fault reset is that it is carried out selectively. Yes, the United States has received support from the Kremlin on Iran and the Afghan War (Russia provides assistance in terms of intelligence, supplying weapons to the Northern Alliance and allow coalition forces flew over its territory). But Obama is not inferior to the two issues of American politics that cause the most dissatisfaction in Moscow: the eastward expansion of NATO and the deployment of missile defense in the immediate proximity of Russian borders. This imbalance is not only irritating on a restart, but also undermines the authority of Medvedev. Even Putin, who publicly declared: "And where is this reset?"

And Lavrov acknowledged that some important issues, including NATO plans to deploy a missile defense system in Europe, continue to poison US-Russian relations. In July, NATO rejected the Russian proposal for a so-called sectoral missile defense system in Europe, in which an individual country or group of countries should be responsible for their particular sector of missile defense. The Russian proposal removed from the agenda of talks between Russia and NATO. If Russia favors a joint missile defense system with full interoperability of its elements, the Alliance insists on independence and autonomy of the two separate systems, among which you can exchange information. In addition, NATO refuses to provide legally binding assurances that its missile defense system will not be directed against Russia.

Moscow, in contrast to the alliance, argues that such a guarantee is the only way to prevent a new arms race. Lavrov openly stated that a compromise on the issue, which is now unlikely, "translated to them (the U.S. and Russia) relations to the level of alliance." In this regard, Obama has so far breaks its own plans to conclude an agreement on the reduction of Russian tactical nuclear weapons, short range. As Medvedev warned, if the conflict on the ABM issue is not resolved on the basis of absolute equality, we can expect "another escalation of the arms race."

What should I do?

To resolve, or at least reduce the conflict, the Obama administration should work with the Kremlin to develop a new model of cooperation on missile defense. The first and very important step in this process is to provide legal guarantees for Moscow that the European missile defense system is not aimed against Russia. Such a move would hurt to go to Moscow responses, such as building a nuclear capability. Medvedev said earlier that Russia will expand its nuclear capacity and impact will come out of the START-3, if the U.S. or NATO missile defense system would threaten its security. Speaking in May at a news conference, Medvedev clearly expressed its position on the matter: "Everyone should be clear that the missile defense - a way of blocking, or edema, and strategic capabilities of many countries ... When we say this is not directed against you, - I take note of, but I understand that other countries, which in this case refers to [Iran and North Korea], features such as Russia, do not yet have and are unlikely to in the coming years will have ... So, it's against us. "

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States insisted that Russia under any circumstances can not form a powerful sphere of influence in former Soviet territories. This is another fundamental issue of the dispute underlying the deterioration of Russian-American relations. According to Cohen, "... we must ask what Moscow really need in the former Soviet republics ... as the main requirement of the Kremlin leadership is the lack of pro-American military bases and states in the neighboring countries. In short, they do not become members of NATO. Is this unreasonable? "States such as Ukraine and Georgia are part of a Russian sphere of security. As during the Bush years, the traditional "ghost" that prevents a drastic improvement in Russian-American relations, it is lasting for 12 years the expansion of NATO towards Russia's borders.

To resolve this geopolitical conflict, Washington should work on the implementation of Bush's broken promise that Western troops would not be placed in any new country of NATO to the east of Germany. In response, Moscow could confirm that recognizes the sovereignty of former Soviet republics. Such a compromise will not only reduce Russian concerns about NATO's missile defense programs in Eastern Europe, but also confirms the commitment of the Obama restarts without violating at the same time to guarantee the NATO collective security for all member countries.

To establish a true partnership, the United States and Russia should take advantage of the opportunities of economic cooperation to build success. While large American companies such as Cisco, Chevron and General Electric, signed important contracts in Russia, trade and investment ties between the two countries are far from optimal. As noted by Vice President Joe Biden, "the value of goods crossing our borders daily with Canada and Mexico exceeds the amount of our annual trade with Russia." In 2010 Russia became the only U.S. 37th export market in terms of trade, and the amount of trade between the two countries amounted to only 23.5 billion, or approximately 3.8% of total foreign trade of Russia. Strengthening economic ties can serve as a development co-operation on security and nuclear nonproliferation. In order to improve economic relations are extremely important step is to repeal Jackson-Vanik amendment. This law of the Cold War linked the trade relations with Russia, with the rights of religious minorities to emigrate.

However, as explained President Obama, the success of bilateral trade in the future depends on Russia's ability to modernize its economy and implement political liberalization. Case 37-year-old lawyer on tax issues Magnitsky, exposing the largest tax fraud in Russian history, but it was because of his honesty in jail and beaten to death, is an important reminder of the corruption that eats away today Russia. Although many aspects of the case Magnitsky, as well as other human rights defenders who gave their lives in an attempt to expose injustice, to investigate in the U.S. is difficult, some of the steps taken in this regard is still possible. As you continue to reset bilateral relations in the United States should stand firm on issues of human rights violations in Russia, while maintaining a visa ban on entry into the U.S. of those Russian officials who were involved in the torture and Magnitsky to his death. As co-chairman of the Helsinki Commission of the U.S. Senate, Ben Cardin (Ben Cardin), Washington must first be made clear that "respect for human rights helps improve relations and trade, and it is not long-term goals."

Obama continues to tout the "successes" reset with Russia, calling it his chief foreign policy achievement. And 2012 may be marked by even more specific changes in the Russian-American relations. Now the problem is how to avoid the mentality of the Cold War and to prevent that bilateral relations stuck in standby mode.

Russia and the United States where the future is next?

When Barack Obama in January 2009 became president of the Russian-American relations were tense and very complex. Agreements on arms control were on the verge of collapse, and co-operation came to replace the sharp conflicts. So much so, that some observers, including Mikhail Gorbachev, announced the launch of a new Cold War. Although these estimates may seem like an exaggeration, the tension between the two former superpowers has been really powerful, especially under President George W. Bush. In Bush's first term, for example, the United States has consistently worked to enlarge NATO and the approach to block Russia's borders. At the same time completely ignored the promise of George Bush to Gorbachev that NATO would refrain from moving to the east beyond the reunited Germany. And when the U.S. unilaterally adopted in June 2002 decision to withdraw from the ABM treaty, the cooperation started continue to weaken and crumble. ABM Treaty was considered the basis for nuclear safety in Russia. As stated Vladimir Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev, the Kremlin felt that he was "deceived and betrayed."

But when President Obama took office, Washington, as it seemed, was ready to recognize the seriousness of the deterioration of relations with Russia. In 2009, Obama said that "reset" relations with Moscow will be a priority of his foreign policy.

As noted in the World Politics Review, the most obvious improvement in US-Russian relations today is to change the tone of communication. Statements by Moscow and Washington are much more conciliatory in nature. Obama and Medvedev are common with each other and seem to relish the opportunity to appear in the image of the president-minded. Responding to questions about the restart, each emphasizes its progress and results as evidence of their personal friendship. In a rare interview with the Financial Times in June this year, Medvedev has sought to publicly acknowledge the fact that the Russian-American relations have greatly improved thanks to the efforts of the two administrations. He noted that work with Obama, it's easy, and added: "I'd like to see Barack Obama a second time, was elected as President of the United States, more than perhaps anyone else." During the current July 7 interview with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made the state TV channel "Russia 24", he said the United States has become "more reliable, more predictable, more consistent partner."

However, improvements are not limited to only one change of tone. So far, Obama and Medvedev approved a new START-3 for nuclear disarmament and agreed on an interim basis for cooperation on missile defense, which was one of the main sources of friction between the two countries in the Bush era. After the July visit of Minister Lavrov in Washington the White House announced that Obama actively supports Russia's bid to join the World Trade Organization (WTO). Having made a rare step for a leader, not a head of state, Lavrov met with Obama and discussed a wide range of issues - from human to adopt to Libya and Syria. The result was an agreement on adoption, which he signed with the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. It includes a provision stating that the organization of adoptions in Russia can only deal with those agencies that are approved by Moscow. This agreement was concluded in connection with the powerful reaction of indignation over the fact that a woman from Tennessee "back" of her adopted seven children back to Russia, where he flew there, without any accompaniment. During the visit, Lavrov, he and Clinton reiterated that the United States and Russia will continue to deal with disposing of weapons-grade plutonium. In addition, an agreement was signed on simplification of visa regime.

However, rebooting Obama has been limited. Key issues such as missile defense and NATO expansion, have not been solved and remains a source of irritation, and politicians from both parties oppose the deepening of bilateral ties. But there is still time to make the Obama administration confidently pressed the reset button.

Who betrays whom?

One of the major impediments to progress in US-Russian relations, a force of political opposition in Washington and Moscow. In Washington, many Republican lawmakers in Congress criticized the administration for its attempts at rapprochement with Medvedev, continually expressing concern about human rights violations in Russia. So, after a hearing on the administration of Republican politics restart from Florida Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Ileana Ros-Lehtinen), who heads the House committee on foreign affairs, said that "Russia day by day more and more takes the Stalinist guise." "The administration should put an end to a string of concessions to Moscow regime, since they do not lead to increased cooperation with the U.S." - she said. More recently, Ros-Lehtinen promised to block Russia's WTO accession. Her statements echo the New American Cold War hawks who continually act to attack Obama on reboot, and sometimes even to compare it with the Nazi-Soviet pact of 1939. According to an article in Nation Steven Cohen (Stephen F. Cohen), in the absence of "countervailing pro-Russian lobby and substantial Russian-American economic relations that can support the restart," Obama's policy towards Russia is extremely vulnerable to attack.

Supporters reset in Moscow are also faced with no less sharp criticism. Using stamps Cold War, many believe attempts at rapprochement by the Obama ploy, aimed at further intervention in the affairs of Russia. Even President Medvedev declared enemy of the state for his friendliness toward Washington. Its March decision to abstain from voting on the air in the NATO bombing of Libya by many, and in the first place, the former Russian ambassador to that country, Vladimir Chamov, regarded as a "betrayal" of Russian interests. In fact, open American support for candidates Medvedev in the presidential election in 2012 has caused dissatisfaction over U.S. interference in the internal affairs of Russia. In other words, the personal friendship of presidents has not led to broad support for the bilateral relations by the political class in Russia.

While Medvedev did not "betray" Russia's interests, cooperation on equal terms is not happening. In fact, one of the main fault reset is that it is carried out selectively. Yes, the United States has received support from the Kremlin on Iran and the Afghan War (Russia provides assistance in terms of intelligence, supplying weapons to the Northern Alliance and allow coalition forces flew over its territory). But Obama is not inferior to the two issues of American politics that cause the most dissatisfaction in Moscow: the eastward expansion of NATO and the deployment of missile defense in the immediate proximity of Russian borders. This imbalance is not only irritating on a restart, but also undermines the authority of Medvedev. Even Putin, who publicly declared: "And where is this reset?"

And Lavrov acknowledged that some important issues, including NATO plans to deploy a missile defense system in Europe, continue to poison US-Russian relations. In July, NATO rejected the Russian proposal for a so-called sectoral missile defense system in Europe, in which an individual country or group of countries should be responsible for their particular sector of missile defense. The Russian proposal removed from the agenda of talks between Russia and NATO. If Russia favors a joint missile defense system with full interoperability of its elements, the Alliance insists on independence and autonomy of the two separate systems, among which you can exchange information. In addition, NATO refuses to provide legally binding assurances that its missile defense system will not be directed against Russia.

Moscow, in contrast to the alliance, argues that such a guarantee is the only way to prevent a new arms race. Lavrov openly stated that a compromise on the issue, which is now unlikely, "translated to them (the U.S. and Russia) relations to the level of alliance." In this regard, Obama has so far breaks its own plans to conclude an agreement on the reduction of Russian tactical nuclear weapons, short range. As Medvedev warned, if the conflict on the ABM issue is not resolved on the basis of absolute equality, we can expect "another escalation of the arms race."

What should I do?

To resolve, or at least reduce the conflict, the Obama administration should work with the Kremlin to develop a new model of cooperation on missile defense. The first and very important step in this process is to provide legal guarantees for Moscow that the European missile defense system is not aimed against Russia. Such a move would hurt to go to Moscow responses, such as building a nuclear capability. Medvedev said earlier that Russia will expand its nuclear capacity and impact will come out of the START-3, if the U.S. or NATO missile defense system would threaten its security. Speaking in May at a news conference, Medvedev clearly expressed its position on the matter: "Everyone should be clear that the missile defense - a way of blocking, or edema, and strategic capabilities of many countries ... When we say this is not directed against you, - I take note of, but I understand that other countries, which in this case refers to [Iran and North Korea], features such as Russia, do not yet have and are unlikely to in the coming years will have ... So, it's against us. "

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the United States insisted that Russia under any circumstances can not form a powerful sphere of influence in former Soviet territories. This is another fundamental issue of the dispute underlying the deterioration of Russian-American relations. According to Cohen, "... we must ask what Moscow really need in the former Soviet republics ... as the main requirement of the Kremlin leadership is the lack of pro-American military bases and states in the neighboring countries. In short, they do not become members of NATO. Is this unreasonable? "States such as Ukraine and Georgia are part of a Russian sphere of security. As during the Bush years, the traditional "ghost" that prevents a drastic improvement in Russian-American relations, it is lasting for 12 years the expansion of NATO towards Russia's borders.

To resolve this geopolitical conflict, Washington should work on the implementation of Bush's broken promise that Western troops would not be placed in any new country of NATO to the east of Germany. In response, Moscow could confirm that recognizes the sovereignty of former Soviet republics. Such a compromise will not only reduce Russian concerns about NATO's missile defense programs in Eastern Europe, but also confirms the commitment of the Obama restarts without violating at the same time to guarantee the NATO collective security for all member countries.

To establish a true partnership, the United States and Russia should take advantage of the opportunities of economic cooperation to build success. While large American companies such as Cisco, Chevron and General Electric, signed important contracts in Russia, trade and investment ties between the two countries are far from optimal. As noted by Vice President Joe Biden, "the value of goods crossing our borders daily with Canada and Mexico exceeds the amount of our annual trade with Russia." In 2010 Russia became the only U.S. 37th export market in terms of trade, and the amount of trade between the two countries amounted to only 23.5 billion, or approximately 3.8% of total foreign trade of Russia. Strengthening economic ties can serve as a development co-operation on security and nuclear nonproliferation. In order to improve economic relations are extremely important step is to repeal Jackson-Vanik amendment. This law of the Cold War linked the trade relations with Russia, with the rights of religious minorities to emigrate.

However, as explained President Obama, the success of bilateral trade in the future depends on Russia's ability to modernize its economy and implement political liberalization. Case 37-year-old lawyer on tax issues Magnitsky, exposing the largest tax fraud in Russian history, but it was because of his honesty in jail and beaten to death, is an important reminder of the corruption that eats away today Russia. Although many aspects of the case Magnitsky, as well as other human rights defenders who gave their lives in an attempt to expose injustice, to investigate in the U.S. is difficult, some of the steps taken in this regard is still possible. As you continue to reset bilateral relations in the United States should stand firm on issues of human rights violations in Russia, while maintaining a visa ban on entry into the U.S. of those Russian officials who were involved in the torture and Magnitsky to his death. As co-chairman of the Helsinki Commission of the U.S. Senate, Ben Cardin (Ben Cardin), Washington must first be made clear that "respect for human rights helps improve relations and trade, and it is not long-term goals."

Obama continues to tout the "successes" reset with Russia, calling it his chief foreign policy achievement. And 2012 may be marked by even more specific changes in the Russian-American relations. Now the problem is how to avoid the mentality of the Cold War and to prevent that bilateral relations stuck in standby mode.