Russia's Great Power Security Relationship With the United States

Abstract

In a post-11 Sept atmosphere fraught with security challenges, the US and Russia are attempting to forge a security relationship that is mutually beneficial. For the US, its expectations of the relationship are outlined in documents such as the 2002 National Security Strategy (NSS), National Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), and other key strategies forged in the current Bush Administration. For Russia, its expectations are provided in various forums by President Vladimir Putin, Foreign Minister Igor S. Ivanov, and leading Russian security experts. As varying expectations meet reality, a key question emerges: What is Russia's current security relationship with the US and how is it meeting common challenges? The method for answering this question is a critical policy analysis involving two parts. The first part assesses Russia's post-Cold War security identity in three phases (failed superpower, great power, and friendly power). From the US perspective, Russia's security identity in the 1990s was a failed superpower a dysfunctional, imploding empire that felt more comfortable confronting the west rather than embracing it. Beginning in 2000, Russia under Putin initiated reforms that brought stability and economic growth. Correspondingly, the US perspective of Russia's security identity changed; it now views Russia as a great power capable of pragmatic influence in the international diplomatic, economic, and military spheres. The third security identity for Russia is one that proves most elusive friendly power. The US assumed Russia would migrate to this phase immediately after the Cold War. Today, many foreign policy experts continue to predict an end state for Russia as a long-term US ally. In early 2003, however, Russia is still far from the free society and reliable ally that characterize friendly powers such as the United Kingdom and Japan.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2003
Accession Number
ADA424986

Entities

People

  • Samuel B. Vandiver

Organizations

  • Air Command and Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Central Asia
  • Globalization
  • Governments
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • Market Economy
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Nuclear Materials
  • Security
  • Terrorism
  • Terrorists
  • Treaties
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Weapons Of Mass Destruction

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • East Asian Political and Security Studies within the Soviet Union
  • Strategic Security Studies