Russia–United States relations

This page deals with the relations between the Russian Federation and the United States. For the relations between the Russian empire and the United States (1776-1922), see: Relations between the Russian Empire and the United States. For the relations between the Soviet Union and the United States (1922-1991), see: Soviet-United States relations.

Russia–United States relations

Russia	United States

Relations between the Russian Federation and the United States since 1991 began after the demise of the Soviet Union.

End of the Cold War

Main article: Cold War (1985-1991)

In the late 1980s, Eastern European nations took advantage of the relaxation of Soviet control under Mikhail Gorbachev and began to break away from communist rule. On July 31, 1991, the START I treaty cutting back nuclear warheads was signed by Gorbachev and U.S. president George H.W. Bush. In December 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed and the Commonwealth of Independent States was formed. With the ending of Communism, relations between Russia and the United States warmed rapidly.

Post-Cold War Era

Presidents Bush and Putin at the 33rd G8 summit, June 2007.

The aggressive privatization/free market reforms implemented by Russian President Boris Yeltsin during the 1990s were strongly encouraged and supported by the U.S. administrations of George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton, and by American economists and corporations. However, the reforms, known as "shock therapy", produced a major economic crisis in Russia, resulting in skyrocketing poverty, and the rise of corrupt "oligarchs" who amassed power and tremendous wealth after acquiring control of the former Soviet state industries. Public order and stability deteriorated greatly.

In regard to international affairs, Russia largely stayed on the sidelines during this period. Although lending tacit support to its historical ally, Serbia, Russia stood aside and did not attempt to block the 1999 Kosovo War in Serbia, even though both Russia and China had strongly condemned it.

During the presidencies of Vladimir Putin and George W. Bush, the U.S. and Russia began to have more serious disagreements. Under Putin, Russia became more assertive in international affairs than it had been under his predecessor; under Bush, the U.S. took an increasingly unilateral course in its foreign policy, particularly in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks.

In 2002, Bush withdrew the United States from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in order to move forward with plans for a missile defense system. Putin called the decision a mistake. Russia strongly opposed the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, though without exercising its veto in the United Nations Security Council. Russia has regarded the expansion of NATO into the old Eastern Bloc, and U.S. efforts to gain access to Central Asian oil and natural gas as a potentially hostile encroachment on Russia's sphere of influence.

Officials in the United States expressed concern over their perception of Putin's increasingly authoritarian rule and reversal of democratic reforms, human rights violations in Chechnya, suppression of free speech, alleged murder of political dissidents, attacks on journalists in Russia, and support for highly authoritarian regimes in other former Soviet republics. Moscow has also been accused of using its natural gas resources to blackmail neighboring countries like Ukraine and Georgia to gain concessions on matters of concern to the Kremlin.

Post-Cold War increasing of tensions

In March 2007, the U.S. announced plans to build an anti-ballistic missile defense installation in Poland along with a radar station in the Czech Republic. Both nations were former Warsaw Pact members. American officials said that the system was intended to protect the United States and Europe from possible nuclear missile attacks by Iran or North Korea. Russia, however, viewed the new system as a potential threat and, in response, tested a long-range intercontinental ballistic missile, the RS-24, which it claimed could defeat any defense system. Russian president Vladimir Putin warned the U.S. that these new tensions could turn Europe into a "powder keg". On 3 June 2007, Putin warned that if the U.S. builds the missile defense system, Russia would consider targeting missiles at Poland and the Czech Republic..

On 16 October 2007, Vladimir Putin visited Iran to discuss Russia's aid to Iran's nuclear power program and "insisted that the use of force was unacceptable." On 17 October Bush stated "if you're interested in avoiding World War III, it seems like you ought to be interested in preventing them from having the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon," understood as a message to Putin. A week later Putin compared U.S. plans to put up a missile defense system near Russia's border as analogous to when the Soviet Union deployed missiles in Cuba, prompting the Cuban Missile Crisis.

On 14 February 2008, Vladimir Putin again announced that Russia might have to retarget some of its rockets towards the missile defense system, claiming that "If it appears, we will be forced to respond appropriately - we will have to retarget part of our systems against those missiles." He also said that missiles might be redirected towards Ukraine if they went ahead with plans to build NATO bases within their territory, saying that "We will be compelled to aim our missiles at facilities that we consider a threat to our national security, and I am putting this plainly now so that the blame for this is not shifted later,"

On 8 July 2008, Russia announced that if a US anti-missile shield is deployed near the Russian border, they will react militarily. The statement from the Russian foreign ministry said "If a US strategic anti-missile shield starts to be deployed near our borders, we will be forced to react not in a diplomatic fashion but with military-technical means." Later, Russia's ambassador to the United Nations stated that "military-technical means" does not mean military action, but more likely a change in Russia's strategic posture, perhaps by redeploying its own missiles.

In August 2008, American-Russian relations were strained, when the Russian Federation invaded Georgia. Russia claimed that it was a mission to protect Georgian separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia from a Georgian military offensive. However, Russian military didn't stop in these regions and continued towards Georgian capital. The United States chose to support Georgia in the conflict, sent humanitarian aid to Georgia and helped with withdrawal of Georgian troops from Iraq.

On 14 August 2008, the United States and Poland agreed to have 10, two-stage missile interceptors - made by Orbital Sciences Corporation - placed in Poland, as part of a missile shield to defend Europe and the US from a possible missile attack by Iran. In return, the US agreed to move a battery of MIM-104 Patriot missiles to Poland. The missile battery would be staffed - at least temporarily - by US Military personnel. The US also pledged to defend Poland - a NATO member - quicker than NATO would in the event of an attack. Additionally, the Czech Republic recently agreed to allow the placement of a radar-tracking station in their country, despite public opinion polls showing that the majority of Czechs are against the plans and only 18% support it. The radar-tracking station in the Czech Republic would also be part of the missile defense shield. After the agreement was announced, Russian officials said defences on Russia's borders would be increased and that they foresee harm in bilateral relations with the United States

On November 5, 2008, the Russian Federation announced to deploy short-range missilies to Kaliningrad, near the border with American-backed Poland.

Timeline of Peace between The US and Russia

This timeline of peace shows the growing relations between Russia and the United States following the end of the Cold War.

• 1992 Yeltsin visits the United States.
• 1992 Russia attends the Washington Summit.
• 1994 First joint US-Russian Space Shuttle mission.
• 1996 Ratification of START 2 treaty.
• 1998 Launch of International Space Station.
• 2002 US president George W Bush and Russian president Vladimir Putin meet in Moscow and sign a treaty on strategic offensive reductions and declaration on a new strategic relationship.
• 2007 Russia offers The United States to put missile defences on Azerbaijan.

Economic Ties

On November 7, 2008 General Motors has opened a Car manufacturing plant in St Petersburg, Russia which would could create more jobs for people in Russia. John Beyrle the US ambassador to the Russian Federation has made a statement (and quoted) "This plant brings together American investment and the newest American automotive innovations and technologies with the best Russian engineering talent. – a powerful combination". American investment has been growing at a rate of fifty percent a year. Two-way trade between Russia and the United States now exceeds $26 billion, and two-way investment is approaching $20 billion. We believe this investment will continue to grow, benefiting the people of this region and adding to the prosperity of both Russia and the United States.[1]

Bering Strait bridge/tunnel

On March 30, 2008 (former) Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown real intentions into building a tunnel/bridge to connect Russia with the United States. The 64-mile tunnel would run under the Bering Strait between Chukotka, in the Russian far east, and Alaska; the cost is estimated at £33 billion. Roman Abramovich, the owner of Chelsea football club and governor of Chukotka, has invested £80m in the world’s largest drill but has denied that it is linked with the development. Proposals for such a tunnel were approved by Tsar Nicholas II in the early 20th century but were abandoned during the Soviet era. If finally built, the tunnel would allow rail connections between London and ppNew York]]. A Kremlin spokesman confirmed last week that Putin seeks to build “a real bridge” between Russia and the United States when he meets Bush at the Black Sea resort of Sochi.[2] It is hoped by both diplomats in both the United States and Russia that the Bering Strait bridge would strengthen relations with the United States.

Military ties

The United States and Russia have done joint military excersises, training and counter terrorist excersises in Germany. This was done in hopes to strengthen relations with the United States and Russia. [3] The Russian president also proposed that the United States and Russia put joint a missile defense system in Azerbaijan which the United States is considering. [4] Additionally, due to tensions over Georgia, the United States has canceled its most recent joint NATO/Russia military exercise.

War on Terror

Russia has also shown support for the United States War on Terror by deploying a Military Hospital and a small number of troops (Russian troops to guard the Military Hospital) to Afghanistan to aid both US troops, allied troops and Afghan Civilians.

The Russian Federation has offered/agreed to assist the United States in patroling the Horn of Africa in an attempt to combat the threat of Somali Pirates. This anti-terrorist support for the United States possibly came after Somali Pirates hijacked a Ukrainian ship near the Horn of Africa.

Russian military rescue of American girl

During the 2008 Georgian Conflict Russian military forces aided an American girl (Amanda) traped in Georgia to escape Georgia. According to the Amanda she was running from Georgian forces and not Russian. Amanda also thanked Russian military forces in helping her escape to Russia where Amanda said Amanda took a plane from Moscow to go back to San Fransisco, United States.[5]

See also

• Kremlinology
• Soviet–United States relations
• Embassy of the United States in Moscow