1. U.S. and Russia Relations Under Trump and Putin
- Author:
- William Danvers
- Publication Date:
- 12-2016
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Center for American Progress - CAP
- Abstract:
- The detritus of the U.S.-Soviet Union relationship remains a part of the U.S.-Russian relationship. During the Cold War, U.S. policy went from containment to détente to confrontation. Today, the vicissitudes of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s engagement with the United States range from the productive—the Iran nuclear deal is one example—to confrontation—Ukraine is a good example—to doing a bit of both—Syria is an example of this. Putin wants Russia to not only have a seat at the table where decisions are made about global international issues but also wants the seat once held by the former Soviet Union.1 In other words, Putin wants a return to the great power politics of the Cold War and a free hand in the territory that was part of the Soviet Union. In this regard, Putin needs the United States as an adversary, though not necessarily as an enemy.2 This sort of dynamic allows him to maintain political support at home—he is protecting Russia from an outside threat—which allows him to avoid fixing an economy that is faltering3 and addressing the corruption that is a significant part of the political scene.4
- Topic:
- Corruption, Diplomacy, Bilateral Relations, Leadership, and Conflict
- Political Geography:
- Russia, Europe, North America, and United States of America