A New Paradigm for U.S.-Russia Relations: Facing the Post-Cold War Reality

Publication Date: September 2002

Publisher: Heritage Foundation (Washington, D.C.)

Author(s): Ariel Cohen

Research Area: Government

Keywords: Russia and Eurasia

Type: Report

Coverage: Russia (Federation)

Abstract:

In an attempt to encourage the development of democracy in Russia after the fall of communism, the Clinton Administration granted American economic and political support to President Boris Yeltsin on issues ranging from arms control to the war in Chechnya. But these concessions have brought few reassurances that Russia intends to become America’s friend and ally. Even though the Clinton Administration repeatedly has indicated its goodwill, the fledgling partnership that developed between Russia and the United States after the end of the Cold War has long since receded into history. More often than not, Russian-American relations have resembled a one-way street that leads only to Moscow. It is time for the Administration to develop a new paradigm to govern its relations with Russia-a policy that, like a blinking yellow light in an intersection, could be called “proceed with caution.”