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Subscribe to RSSRussia will be at the top of the foreign policy agenda for whoever is in the White House. Ordinary Russians give their view of the election to NBC News in Moscow.
News analysis
LONDON -- One thing is clear: whether it's President Barack Obama or President Mitt Romney, dealing with Russia will be on his "must do" list.
The "sleeping bear" has been pretty restless lately: it has vetoed U.N. Security Council resolutions on Syria and blocked U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to end the civil war there; it has refused to pressure Tehran, even though it helped build Iran's nuclear enrichment program; and relentless push-back by Russian President Vladimir Putin against basing a missile defense shield in Poland and the Czech Republic – both former Soviet satellite states – has left those two NATO members exposed and nervous.
Jason Reed / Reuters, file
President Barack Obama shakes hands with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit in Los Cabos, Mexico, on June 18. In the past six months, while supplying arms and support to Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime, Putin has shut down a U.S. government program inside Russia that dismantled its obsolete nuclear weapons, and restricted USAID's operations there.
But figuring out what to do about Russia first means defining who exactly Russia is. Is it, as Romney submits, America's "number one geopolitical foe"? Or, as Obama seems to believe, is Russia a post-Cold War rival with whom we can do business?
Let's step back a little here. Certainly, after the fall of the Soviet Union, relations with Russia under President Boris Yeltsin were more benign. Remember all the guffawing and back-slapping between Yeltsin and President Bill Clinton?
Don Emmert / AFP - Getty Images, file
President Bill Clinton laughs with Russian Federation President Boris Yeltsin during a press conference on October 23, 1995.
Unfortunately, all that good cheer soon turned into a humiliating debacle. Yeltsin was often intoxicated. He launched two disastrous wars in Chechnya, and became a laughingstock as his economy tanked and rich "oligarchs" divvied up the nation's wealth.
Full coverage: NBCNews.com's The World is Watching series
Then came Putin – the former KGB agent who heavy-handedly stopped the hemorrhaging. He re-established Kremlin control over oil and gas, and as oil prices tripled he pumped billions of petro-dollars into his military and, as importantly, into the salaries and pensions of Russian voters.
'An equal'
His popularity skyrocketed; and it was time for the West to take heed. At a Munich security conference in 2007, Putin threw down the gauntlet. He accused the United States – under President George W. Bush – of a murderous policy of global domination and said Russia had the weapons to "neutralize" any missile defense near its borders.
Also in this series: Suspicion of US rife as Obama, Romney jab China
It was not a declaration of war, but it was a turning point – from an America-friendly…to a confrontational Russia. "Russia was back," Fyodor Lukyanov, managing editor of Russia in Global Affairs, told me. "That was the message – we have the resources. You need the resources, and you need to treat Russia with respect. As an equal."
And the chill began to thaw. Dmitry Medvedev succeeded Putin as Russian president and seemed more open and Western-minded than his mentor.
President Barack Obama and Republican candidate Mitt Romney discuss foreign policy in the third and final presidential debate.
He and his counterpart, Barack Obama, agreed to "reset" relations, hoping that the rebooting would clear all the static. Soon, both sides came together on transporting supplies for U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan across Russian territory; cooperation in areas like counter-terrorism and narcotics interdiction increased; Medvedev even championed some political reforms that would have guaranteed the emergence of a real opposition. That is, until Putin retook the presidency last May. Since then, he's rolled back all the reforms, and seems to have "re-reset" U.S.-Russian relations to the days of the Cold War.
Russia warns Obama's 'reset' in relations 'cannot last forever'
Putin is turning the screws, and not just by dramatic moves, like imprisoning members of the female punk group, Pussy Riot, on charges of blasphemy for having performed an anti-Putin song in a Moscow church.
Members of the band Pussy Riot, arrested in February after storming a Moscow cathedral, were sentenced to two years in jail Friday. Critics say the arrest was Putin's personal revenge, raising questions about justice in Russia. NBC's Duncan Golestani reports.
"A pale of repression is settling over the country," wrote Ariel Cohen of the Heritage Foundation in a recent New York Times editorial. "This crackdown is wrapped in legislative garb, but the iron grip of authoritarianism is unmistakable."
New laws now slap pro-democracy protesters with large fines for "illegal assembly." One protest leader – Sergei Udaltsov, the head of the Left Front – has been charged with "plotting riots" and could spend 10 years in jail.
Anti-Putin activists pay high price, but refuse to back down
Others may follow – the courts have just expanded the meaning of "high treason" to include the sharing of information with any foreign non-governmental organization. In addition, NGOs which get funding from abroad must now register as "foreign agents," echoing the days of Cold War espionage.
Also in this series: Despite bloodshed, Mexico is ignored during White House race
And even as our presidential candidates debate whether Russia is a friend or enemy, there seems little doubt that Putin himself sees America as a looming geopolitical target. In the past six months alone, while supplying arms and support to Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime, Putin has shut down a U.S. government program inside Russia that dismantled its obsolete nuclear weapons; he's closed the UNICEF offices, and restricted USAID's operations there.
Russia tells US: We don't' want your aid money
As his anti-American policies multiply, it's small wonder that in a recent national poll, Russians were seriously divided on whether they loved America…or hated it (46 percent to 38 percent, respectively).
Conservatives like Cohen are frustrated. While Putin turns Russia into a "fortress," they say, the Obama administration keeps offering up carrots, like gaining Russia access to the World Trade Organization.
Vice presidential hopeful Paul Ryan praised running-mate Mitt Romney's foreign policy stances at the last presidential debate, telling TODAY's Savannah Guthrie that the GOP candidate did a "fantastic" job of spelling out his doctrine.
They claim the reset just hasn't worked.
"America should pursue its national interests in relations with Moscow, instead of pursuing a feel-good mirage," Cohen wrote.
'Putinization' spreading in Europe, US group warns
President Romney says he would stand up to Russia and talk tough about human-rights abuses. But it's less clear just how a 2nd term Obama presidency would deal with Putin's Russia.
Putin himself has said that he'd rather work with Obama than with the "misled" Romney. That's understandable – on Obama's watch, Putin has succeeded in cracking down on civic dissent at home and building the world's largest publicly-traded oil company – Rosneft.
Russia's Putin: Romney 'mistaken,' Obama 'honest'
Some Russia analysts are calling strategic energy reserves Putin's "new Red Army" – the Kremlin now controls some 25 percent of Europe's, including European NATO members', energy needs.
But does all of that make Russia an enemy, like al-Qaida or Iran? Hardly. Still, it probably means that the next U.S. president is going to have to take off the gloves in dealing with it.
"Putin's understanding of international affairs comes down to a fight for power and prestige," says Lukyanov.
Also in this series: Israel, Iran name checks illustrate America's twin obsessions
And Putin seems intent on using that power and prestige to counter U.S. influence around the globe, even as he turns Russia back into a police state.
Vice President Joe Biden reacts to President Obama's performance in the third and last debate, noting the president has demonstrated the "grasp and a gravity" of foreign policy.
The columnist John Vinocur recently suggested that, if re-elected, Obama should "stand up with protesting Russians the next time they fill Moscow's streets."
But how many protesters – and their leaders – will be languishing in jail by then?
Jim Maceda is an NBC News correspondent based in London who has covered Russia and the former Soviet Union for more than 20 years.
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Leave a Comment:
Soviets were NEVER NEVER NEVER a US friend, and they won’t be for a long time, just ask Brzezinski.
Should China start shoving nukes up their backside, I'll bet that tune changes!
If indeed Russian is pursuing a policy of isolationism, then the US should back off and just worry about our own national interests. Russia will simply fall further behind until at one point even the numnutz in the Kremlin will figure it out, and then the West can sell them technology very much on our terms...
Russia and China are neither friends ( more grown up allies ) nor foes( enemies). They are competitors for resources, markets, technology, and influence. If they were allies this article wouldn't have been wrote. If they were enemies we would be at war with them.
Why would Russia what to even be associated with a criminal government like ours today. Maybe because Obama gives them all our National secrets is all. I guess criminals like to stay close to their enemies. Obama proving he is nothing but criminal and out of touch with anything other than his own greed. His great add that says our enemies have been beaten. Well when you join the enemies and Arm them for world wars, like every war this country gets in, Can't win so you just join them and that's what Obama trauma has done. Maybe Russia also needs American weapons. Since 2008 we have become the worlds biggest Military Arms dealer in the world for Obama and his blood trophies..Go O-Abomination..
Criminal government? Have you been spending too much time in oxygen deprived environments lately, Chuck? Can you cite anything resembling facts to back up your claim? I would agree that we probably are the major arms dealer in the world but this hardly makes the government criminal. Even a botched CIA operation or so would not indicate criminality on the part of our government, just a pursuit of national goals and national interests.
Chuck if Obama is a criminal what is Bush who has war crimes warrants out waiting to be served if he or Cheney set foot in other counties. Why weren't you yelling then ? Rmney want anotyer world war it seems bet his boys wouldn't be in the military if there was a war.
The vine is currently overloaded with re-regs that spew the same nonsense and upvote their own commentary. This is because they are paid to do so. Money floating around pays for this, and ruins the reading experience. Just try to keep in mind they are trolling, just looking for somebody to bite. And then the insults begin. Like they even know who you are.
Nobody mentioned the Kursk so far. Putin hasn't forgotten. We need to continue being respectable and understand that the countries we refuse cooperation run straight to Russia and China. Doesn't take a genius to figure this out. That doesn't make them an enemy, that makes them competition but sounds like some real poor sports out there that just want to crash the game and ruin the fun for everybody.
Childish, really.
Well, in the case of Obama if, the fates forbid, he should be re-elected, it seems he made himself very clear to Medvedev, that he would willingly kiss whatever part of the anatomy required by Putin!
As for Romney, I think he is mistaken that Russia will permanently be our enemy, while they are clearly in opposition to us now I believe that they will ultimately become our ally. For purly self sustaining reasons. They are far closer and have far more to lose to the Chineese, who I believe will be our prime enemy in any major confrontation!
It's not hard to understand why Putin prefers Obama over Romney he has Obama eating out of his hand with Obama he rules with Romney he'll have to negotiate..
I'm in agreement with SF Accountant Putin's preference for Obuckwheat is a great reason to vote for Romney. With Obama in office Putin will be running the show, and the bowing apologist will go along to pacify Putin
cletus- obuckwheat? you racist ass! you must live in front of your tv and listen to faux news and all there racists(hannity) rants. so rather than have OBAMA try to negoiate with the Russians instead let Romney start shooting nukes at them and hope they wont shoot back. that will help the economy and all the unemployed will be little black cinders , the 47% that is. as the 1% will be in bunkers, and idiot comments like yours are reasons that independents like myself shy away from your radical right wing party. spend some time in the military like i did and fight in a war and then see how you feel. ah, nevermind, why do i bother with a moron, you probable voted for Mccain
Nations do not have "friends" or "foes". They have national strategies and objectives and they have interests.
Regardlessof who has held the Presidency since 1945, the primary objective of the US is to secure the homeland against attack. That means primarily having the retaliatory capability, working towards a strategic weapons shield and prevention of terroristacts that actually impact US security and the economy. We have sufficient nuclear and strategic conventional weapons to deter a direct attack by Russia (or anyone else). In this area, Russia is no threat to the US. Not to 'mirror image" Russia's strategic objectives, but their primary objective is the same as ours, secure the homeland. They have sufficient nuclear capability to deter the US (and its allies). Missile defense systems concern them because of their concern over Western technology superiority. Thus, what seems as a subsidiary issue such as protecting US bases in Europe from Iranian ballistic missiles to us, becomes a primary issue to Russia, where the missile defense is seen as reducing Russia's ability to respond to US "agression". Where the US has been insulatd by two oceans from attack or ground warfare on its own soil since 1815, Russia, in is various guises has been invaded from east and west at least nine times since the 16th century, twice in the 20th. Losing its "buffer zone" in the west when NATO expanded right up past the Vistula and with the Ukraine being out of Russian control, the Russians are insecure with its western neighbors. And Russia, despite its economic ties with China, faces the issues of access to Siberia and old quarrels over borders. All US foreign policy makers have to consider that any action that impacts what the Russians see as homeland security i going to strike a nerve and what to us looks like an over reaction. This also leads to a Russian perception that others are trying to limit or eliminate Russian influence in the world as a step toward "surrounding" and "isolating" Russia.
The second international objective is a stable world security system and global economy to facilitate American business and economic activity (80% of the State Department's activities in other countries involves getting or maintaing access to that country's markets for US businesses). Russia wants the same for themselves. Iran is a significant market for Russian goods, especially military equipment. So is Syria. To allow these nations to be drawn from the Russian orbit and to have their markets opened to western goods would be a blow to Russian economic stability and political prestige. Our interest in Syria is coincidental in that an antagonistic Syria has never been a direct threat to US policy. Whether "pro-democracy" forcs win or not in Syria is almost irrelevant to the US. The impact comes from the US's almost pathological support for the State of Israel. But is a Syria dominated by the Syrian Baa'thists, "pro-democracy" Arabs or Islamic fundamentalists any more a danger to Israel than a Syria in chaos? Syria, allied to Russia has maintained a peaceful stability on the Golan Heights since 1973. While it supports anti-Israel terrorism and has designs on Lebanon ("Greater Syria"), the current Syrian regime has refused to allow terrorist attacks from its territory. So why do we care about Syria and why do we care about Russian support to Syria? As far as Iran, that's a different story. Iran has the potential to be a regional power that could dominate the Persian Gulf and the surrounding areas of the Middle East. Under the current regime, it is a danger to US forces in the Middle East, US allies and US economic stability derived from oil and natural gas of the region. Russian weapons and technology support in creating an Iranian military-industrial complex, including nuclear weapons research is destabilizng and a threat to the US. But there's leverage here. Iran sees Russia as a possible enemy based on Russian ambitions towards the Indian Ocean and Iranian ambitions in Central Asia and on the western end of the Black Sea. Ther's no reason e could not back off on Syria and let the Russians have that win while working "under the radar" through "carrot and stick" to push Russia and Iran apart.
But the point here is that seeing Russia as a "foe", as Mr. Romney does and some on this forum agree with him, and trying to block and harass and "stand up" to the Russians is going to have the opposite effect that these people think. Accomadating Russian interests where they don't conlict with those of the US while privately confronting the Russians without forcing them into a position of public humiliation isn't "appeasement". It's staesmanship. Which evidently is what President Obama understands and why GEN Powell endorsed him, and not Mr. Romney, as the next president.
Well said. It seems you have the ability to rub more than two brain cells together and get a result.
Putin and Obungler are both considered enemy's of the State by EVERYONE not in a coma or suffering form sever down syndrome
Russia's Putin: Romney 'mistaken,' Obama 'honest'
Of course, Putin supports Obama - after all, Obama has promised him that he will be "more flexible after the electlion" - meaning that Obama will bend over backwards to kiss Putin's back! And what has Obama promised that we did NOT hear on an open mike
Foreign policy----trust no one----step lightly---and punch only when necessary. First of all, the title to the story is a leading question, one that doesn't need an answer. We deal as we must with scoundrels, doing the best we can't to keep the peace, for as long as possible.
We share the international space station with Russia, ......yet their our mortal enemy, I don't get it. We basically furnished the new structure, sure they did some launching. It's like in space we're friends and on the planet we're enemies, to me it doesn't add up. we should just abandon the station and leave it to them to figure out the technology needed to run and maintain it. Basically all they know how to do is launch a rocket. We furnished them with habitat in space, yet they charge NASA like 1 billion for each launch they make on our behalf. Hello... where's the sanity to the madness. They're just a wolf in sheep's clothing, and they always play both ends against the middle.
Well Obama scraped our Manned Space Flight Program, in the infinate wisdom reserved for leftist morons! Russia however only charges $63 Million per launch. Oh, and all the technology they can steal! I guess it's only fair considering he's providing China with the same technology thru Immelt and GE!
It seems that Obama couldn't pour water out of a boot even with the directions written on the heel! This fool has got to go!
If you cannot tell whether Putin is your friend or not, you are in deep @!$%#!
A communist is a foe. George Patton had it right during world war II.
Treat them neither as a friend or a foe, but with a great deal of suspicion.
Putin vetoes sanctions against Iran and sells weapons to them and also to Syria to kill their own people. Obama has already promised Putin "more leeway" after the election.
VOTE OBAMA OUT OF OFFICE!!!!
As a country with a Majority of "White"People, I think Russia and the United States need to Unite against other countries such as China, Pakistan, North Korea, Japan, and all of the Arab countries, or sooner or later there won't be any "White" countries anymore. Of course the "Browning" of America has already begun and is well on it's way to becoming "TAN".
As Obama himself stated to Medvedev, he will wait until AFTER the election (if by remote chance he is able to steal the election) to kowtow to Russian Depotism at the expense of the National Security of the USA.
One has to be VERY naive at best to think Post Yeltsin Russian Depotism is our "friend", of course, it is our foe.
To ask the average American how we should treat Russia is ridiculous. We have no knowledge of what's really happening - it's behind the scenes. The answer to this question should be "that's what we elected YOU to work out".
If we are going to run foreign policy through the court of public opinion that is at best, ignorant of all the facts, then we are truly lost.
Too many old guard in charge. Gorbachev was a breath of fresh air, followed by meh Yeltsin, and the response was to nominate Putin. I wonder if Putin is aiming for President/PM for life?
Good enough for me....Putin, Chavez and President of Egypt (member of the Muslim Brotherhood) ALL ENDORSE OBUMMER.
ROMNEY/RYAN 2012
first of all Romney is not the president at this time even though the article refers to him as such. secondly, Romney is advised by the same pack of neocons that got us into the disastrous Iraq war. they will start a war within 6 months if Romney is elected.
For as long as I have been alive, I've known that Russia would love nothing better then to see the United States crumble. another Russian leader (Kruschev) said that you will never defeat the U.S. unless you infiltrate their infrastructure and defeat them from within. It is a long process one which has been taking place over the last 50 years. Some our Presidents over this period of time have tried to get along with Russia and the likes of Putin and they don't seem to understand that this still their goal. This POTUS who wants to Fundamentally change this Nations( His words) is the greatest threat to this happening. Wake up America!
It is obvious that the pro-Isreali element is at it again. U S foreign policy has been
dictated by AIPAC and its many congressional supporters not mention the media. Bush's
Wars have done nothing to inspire not only Russia but the Chinese to do anything other than
counter the growing U S military presence throughout much of the world. What is really
amazing is the incredible stupidity of those who continue to support our foreign adverntures
that not only invite resistance but have left America penniless, deeply in debt and an electorate
whose faith & coinfidence in thier government borders on anarchy. Sadly our choice for change
is betwen more of the same (Obama) or screw the middle class (Romney).
Russia is a geo-political friend/enemy just like China. I don't understand why so many Americans cannot see the U.S. through the eyes of others around the world. So let's try this. China sells advanced military aircraft to Cuba and Venezuela. They build and sell advanced navy ships and communications technologies to Guatemala and Cuba. They open up trade with these countries and they sell them advanced tanks and weapons. Now swap out China for the U.S., Cuba for Poland, Guatemala for Czechoslovakia and imagine you're Russia. Are you just okay with your old arch enemy arming to the teeth everyone around you? How do you expect them to react? Russia and China are behaving how you would think, they are protecting their own interests. I think we are finally seeing that all of our interests are not perfectly aligned.
I would be most concerned if Russia starts developing new nuclear weapons and starts selling them. Then, we will have a problem. The idea that Romney will stand up for human rights is hilarious; as a business person, there is no money in it, why do it. The idea Romney will stand up to China is hilarious; as a business person, you throw a grenade at the trading ally that American companies invested nearly a trillion USD in over the last 20 years? If China nationalized all of those assets, what would that get you?
Putin wants recognition, safety and respect. He's an easy read, look at how he behaves. He wants to be the big "macho guy" so you feed his ego. Not real worried about Russia. Oh, by the way, that aircraft carrier they sold China is a P.O.S. and anyone with current military knowledge knows that in 15 years, aircraft carriers will go the way of battleships.
But wait...wasn't it George Bush who declared Putin a man he could trust and do business with? Of course Bush was busy making those unholy alliances to cover up for his massive failures on 911....think Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Yemen in addition to jumping into bed with the mad russian Putin...