Strategic Forum March 2013 Russia Still Matters: Strategic Challenges and Opportunities for the Obama Administration
By John W. PARKER and Michael KOFMAN
Key Points
• Bilateral relations will assume a lower priority for Washington and Moscow in the next 4 years, but there are important areas where cooperation is possible, and may prove necessary, despite the growing “values gap.”
• Pressing developments, interests, and disagreements will necessitate U.S.-Russian coordination on Syria, Afghanistan, the Iranian nuclear file, and missile defense in Europe in the near term.
• Each country’s “pivot” toward the Asia-Pacific region, interests in security and development of the Arctic, and desire to stimulate bilateral trade and investment will be on a longer fuse.
• Allaying Russian concerns over the European Phased Adaptive Approach through transparency measures and technical cooperation will influence any future negotiations on strategic weapons reductions.
John W. PARKER, Michael KOFMAN
Russia Still Matters: Strategic Challenges and Opportunities for the Obama Administration