Towards better russia–US security relations

Abstract

Russia and the United States are the most important countries for many vital security issues. They possess the world's largest nuclear weapons arsenals, are involved in the principal regional conflicts, and have lead roles in opposing international terrorism and weapons proliferation. Despite persistent differences on many questions, mutual interests consistently drive Russians and Americans to work together to overcome these impediments.

This Adelphi Paper argues that opportunities for further improving security cooperation between Russia and the United States exist but are limited. Near-term results in the areas of formal arms control or ballistic missile defences are unlikely. The two governments should focus on improving and expanding their joint threat-reduction and non-proliferation programmes, enhancing their military-to-military dialogue regarding Central Asia and defence industrial cooperation, and deepening their anti-terrorist cooperation, both bilaterally and through NATO. Using more market incentives, expanding reciprocity and equal treatment, and limiting the adverse repercussions from disputes over Iran would facilitate progress.

Russia and the United States will not soon become close allies, but they should be able to achieve better security ties given that, on many issues, their shared interests outweigh those that divide them.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Amira Ali, Nicole Aronzon, Hans Binnendijk, Stephen Blank, Caitlin Brand, Eric Brewer, Chris Brown, Sebastian Elischer, J. Charles Griggs, Adrianne Grunblatt, Edeanna Johnson, Ty Matsdorf, Caroline Patton, Klementina Sula, Noemi Szekely, Samir Tata, Brian Wender, Nick Wetzler, Krystal Wilson, Elizabeth Zolotukhina and several anonymous reviewers for their comments on earlier drafts of this paper. The Project on Nuclear Issues at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, run by Senior Fellow Clark Murdoch and Project Coordinator Kathleen McInnis, organised several conferences that allowed me to deliver presentations on Russian–American security issues. The Hudson Institute's Washington Office, directed by Ken Weinstein, and its Center for Future Security Strategies, directed by S. Enders Wimbush, provided an exceptionally favourable environment for conducting research and writing. Many Russian and US policymakers and experts shared their insights with me on an off-the-record basis. Finally, I benefited enormously from the seminars, presentations and discussions organised by the other think-tanks in the Washington area, whose participants are too numerous to list, but whose ideas continue to drive progress in this vital area.

Notes

¹ James M. Goldgeier, ‘Dissuasion in America's Russia Policy’, Strategic Insights, vol. 3, no. 10, October 2004, at http://www.ccc.nps.navy.mil/si/204/oct/goldgeierOct04.asp.

² Sergei Blagov, ‘Iranian Nuclear Team in Moscow, Seeking New Partnerships’, Eurasia Daily Monitor, 12 July 2005.

³ William Hoehn, ‘Update on Congressional Activity, pp. 25, 26 at http://www.ransac.org/Publications/Congress%20and%20Budget/Federal%20Budget%20and%20Congressional%20Updates/index.asp.

⁴ United Press International, ‘Russia Poll Finds Most Prefer US Ties’, Washington Times, 13 September 2005. See also the July 2005 poll on Russian–US relations summarised in RIA Novosti, 15 September 2005, at http://www.russiaprofile.org/cdi/article.wbp?article-id=8C8FFD0E-B38A-4795-BD7F-2E7DF8B11C(F.