US-Russia Conflict and International Security
Many Americans see Russia today as a threat not only to friends and allies in Eurasia, but to the very fabric of American democracy, the foundation of our prosperity and our cherished way of life. For their part, Russians see an America that routinely uses force without UN approval, that leverages its privileged place in the global economy through sanctions and trade wars, and that walks away from bedrock international treaties. So each side doubles down on pressure, punishment and provocation, even with no evidence that any of these tactics are succeeding.
Presidents Trump and Putin both said they wanted better relations, yet the past four years have brought even further deterioration. Exchanges, from tourism and investment to scientific research and cultural programs, have ground to a near halt. The lights have gone out on countless joint projects that would benefit both countries, which have much more in common than many realize. Perhaps most tragic are the missed opportunities to defeat shared threats: the COVID-19 pandemic, terrorism, proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, even weather patterns.
What is to be done? There is no "easy button" for U.S.-Russia relations, but there is some low hanging fruit. With much more clarity about what Americans stand for and seek to achieve, plus renewed investment in dialogue and exchange at all levels, and a dose of real diplomacy, we can begin to pull back from this dangerous zero-sum game.
Matthew Rojansky is an expert on U.S. relations with the states of the former Soviet Union, especially Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. He has advised governments, intergovernmental organizations, and major private actors on conflict resolution and efforts to enhance shared security throughout the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian region. Previously, Rojansky was Deputy Director of the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. There, he founded Carnegie's Ukraine Program, led a multi-year project to support U.S.-Russia health cooperation, and created a track-two task force to promote resolution of the Moldova-Transnistria conflict. He also served as an Embassy Policy Specialist at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, and as a Visiting Scholar in the Research Division at the NATO Defense College.
