RUSSIA UPDATE...OR WHAT ELSE IS NEW (ЧЕГО НОВОГО)? July 30: As relations between Washington and Moscow move “from crisis to crisis,” Job Henning suggests in an editorial for the New York Times that there remains little to be gained from further “reboot” efforts. “Whatever the merits of the ‘reset’ effort in 2009,” he argues, “it is not a good idea for Washington to spend time and political capital to once again try to build a strategic partnership.” The Kremlin has demonstrated little to no interest in further arms reductions, Henning notes, which was a “key focus” of the 2009 reset. For proof, he notes that the announcement in March that the United States would not build the final phase of the European missile defense shield, which would include long-range interceptors (the greatest threat to Russia’s strategic deterrent) failed to garner any positive response from Moscow. He points out that our strategic interests differ on nearly every major topic, from Iran to Syria to human rights. “These divergent interests simply will not support a new and productive strategic relationship between the United States and Russia,” Henning concludes. “But sometimes there is nothing wrong with maintaining a tactical, opportunistic relationship. Washington should remain ready to exploit opportunities for cooperation with Putin on issues where interests do happen to overlap.” July 31: The flagship of the Russian Black Sea fleet, the Moskva, set off for Havana in what U.S. officials consider an effort to boost military, intelligence, and economic ties with Cuba. Earlier in the year, according to the Washington Times, the Kremlin wrote off the majority of Cuba’s Soviet-era debt, totaling close to $30 billion. Analysts suggest the move is an attempt to maintain influence in the region, following the death of Venezuela’s leftist leader Hugo Chavez and the expected retirement of Cuban leader Raul Castro. After stopping in Havana, the Moskva will continue on to Caracas, Venezuela; Managua, Nicaragua; and Praia Port in the Cape Verde Islands off the eastern coast of Africa. August 1: Despite continued pressure from Washington, the Kremlin granted a year’s asylum to American fugitive Edward Snowden. The announcement jeopardizes a September summit between Russian and American leaders in Moscow. “We see this as an unfortunate development and we are extremely disappointed by it,” said White House spokesman Jay Carney. “We are evaluating the utility of a summit, in light of this and other issues.” Reuters reports that several other meetings between U.S. and Russian officials are also in limbo, including next-week’s scheduled discussions between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, and their Russian counterparts. Several U.S. lawmakers are also pushing President Barack Obama to boycott the G20 summit scheduled to meet in St. Petersburg in September. “Russia has stabbed us in the back," insisted Senator Chuck Schumer, “and each day that Mr. Snowden is allowed to roam free is another twist of the knife.” Copyright (c) 2013, American Foreign Policy Council. All Rights Reserved.nt>
Posted on: Tue, 06 Aug 2013 15:14:38 +0000
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