The United States should change its relations with Russia. This conclusion comes from experts at the US Council on Foreign Relations, an independent, national organization, nonpartisan research center, and publisher. They are convinced that in recent times Russia has been moving in the wrong direction, and are therefore recommending that the American government build its dialogue with the Kremlin on a selective cooperation basis.
The authors of this recommendation also believe that Russia’s political system is becoming increasingly authoritarian and that the “practices and institutions that have developed over this period have become far less open, far less transparent, far less pluralist, far less subject to the rule of law, and far less vulnerable to the criticism.” The Americans say that at the start of this year Moscow used its energy resources as a political weapon in its confrontation with Ukraine and Georgia, thus revealing its true face.
The report also cites other examples that are causing concern to the CFR, namely Russia’s manipulations in the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which are aimed at curbing US access to bases in Central Asia, sales of arms and advanced military technologies to China, and steps taken to undermine neighboring democracies.
Experts believe that the situation can be corrected by expanding democracy in Russia. Selective cooperation can be a stimulus, especially in view of the elections to the Duma in 2007 and the presidential elections in 2008. They stress that Washington should cooperate with the Kremlin on new principles, regardless of Russia’s possible irritation. Once Moscow understands this change, it will be more inclined to cooperate, the report emphasizes. Experts point out that the US should insist that matters relating to energy supply security (referring to Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova) be discussed during the G8 Summit scheduled for this summer in St. Petersburg.
American analysts believe that their government should also work on stepping up the integration of these countries into Western structures to ease Russia’s pressure on its neighbors. The report stresses that it is necessary to pressure the US allies, so that Georgia will join the NATO membership Action Plan. The authors believe that Russia will only benefit from this approach by cooperating with the US and other countries.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has already condemned the report, regarding it as an attempt to “subject Moscow’s further participation in the G8 to US requirements, including going along with US foreign policy.”
Can the United States influence Russia’s policy? How is it possible to influence Ukraine’s integration with Western structures? An answer to this question is offered by Yevhen KAMINSKY, department head at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations:
“It is obvious that the United States wants to change its relations with Russia. American policy is permeated with the idea of democracy. The US approaches democracy from the standpoint of its own and its allies’ national security. In this sense it will be important [to know] whether the US and its allies are capable of resolving two issues: a reduction in Western Europe’s energy dependence on Russia’s gas supplies and that of the US on oil imports. If they can do this and thereby unite the Western community of nations, I think there will be options for exerting significant influence on Russia.
“As for assisting Ukraine on its road to integration with Western structures, everything will depend on the one hand on the Transatlantic alliance’s ability to coordinate its efforts. On the other hand, the US attitude to Ukraine will largely depend on the outcome of the parliamentary elections in Ukraine. Everything will depend on our foreign political doctrine and purposeful approach. We must realize our European choice in deeds, not in words.
If the newly formed coalition heads westward, assistance from the democratic community will be possible. The US national security strategy has taken this report into account and made it clear that pressure will be exerted on undemocratic countries and authoritarian systems. Economic sanctions may also be applied against some of them.”
