The US-Russia Relations after the 'Reset': Pragmatism or a New Confrontation?
The US-Russia relations are entering a new political season in a shape which is far from being perfect. The “reset” is over, and throughout the years 2011 and especially 2012 the relations have worsened again. Political leadership of both countries is irritated and disappointed with each other. Unlike the last four years, neither Russia nor the US will invest much political capital in their relations improvement, and their relative priority will decrease in both countries’ foreign policies. The share of contradictions in the relations surpasses that of positive cooperation again. Yet, the paper argues, a new worsening of the US-Russia relations or their new stagnation over the next years is in neither side’s interests. The US and Russia still do have an important positive agenda to work on, which is crucial for both sides’ vital national interests. It includes, above all, Afghanistan and the Asia Pacific. The major impediment of progress on both dimensions, the author claims, will be in the near- and middle term future a lack of political will on both sides to move the relations forward.
The Republican Challenge to Obama's Russia Policy
The reset in US–Russia relations has not been universally welcomed. There is much opposition within the Republican Party elite over both individual policies and the approach as a whole.
President of the United States of America
The Declaration calls for action to address the twin threats of rapid climate change and unsustainable industrial development. Both carry devastating consequences for the Arctic ecosystem and Arctic people, but also for the wider international community and future generations. It calls for a stop to offshore Arctic oil drilling; for urgent measures to protect fish stocks and the marine environment; and for the creation of a global sanctuary in the uninhabited area around the North Pole. You can find the full declaration text in the attached document. Our intention is to build an impressive community of states people, parliamentarians, civil society and faith organizations supporting action to protect the Arctic. The Declaration and its demands will ultimately be presented to world leaders and to the leaders of the Arctic States. We are delighted that Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Nelson Mandela Memory Foundation have become the first individual and the first organization to join us in this new venture. Also I want to take advantage of this opportunity to back the petition that more than 100,000 U.S. citizens had signed since July urging you to take a big step toward a clean energy future and declare Arctic drilling 'off limits' forever. Lease 237 cannot, in the face of all the evidence about the dangers of Arctic drilling and climate change, be allowed to go forward. Stopping extreme drilling in the U.S. Arctic Ocean would have a big positive impact around the world, showing global leadership in tackling climate change.