U.S. Army War College >> Strategic Studies Institute >> Publications >> Details

Russia and Arms Control: Are There Opportunities for the Obama Administration?

Authored by Dr. Stephen J. Blank.

Brief Synopsis

Russo-American relations are generally acknowledged to be at an impasse. Arms control issues feature prominently in that conflicted agenda. Indeed, as of September 2008, the Bush administration was contemplating not just a break in arms talks but actual sanctions, and allowed the bilateral civil nuclear treaty with Russia to die in the Senate rather than go forward for confirmation. Russian spokesmen make clear their belief that American concessions on key elements of arms control issues like missile defenses in Europe are a touchstone for the relationship and a condition of any further progress towards genuine dialogue. This impasse poses several risks beyond the obvious one of a breakdown in U.S.-Russian relations and the easily foreseeable bilateral consequences. Since the outbreak of the Russo-Georgian war in August 2008, both sides have further hardened positions and raised tensions apart from the war itself and Russia’s quite evident refusal to abide by its own cease-fire terms. Nevertheless, for better or worse, arms control and its agenda will remain at the heart of the bilateral Russo-American relationship for a long time. For these reasons, neither the political nor the military aspect can be divorced from the other. And for these same reasons, we cannot refuse to participate in the bilateral effort to resolve those issues.

You may also be interested in the following titles:

• 
  Perspectives on Russian Foreign Policy

• 
  The Promise and Pitfalls of Grand Strategy

• 
  2012-13 KSIL Update No. 01

• 
  Transnational Organized Crime, Terrorism, and Criminalized States in Latin America: An Emerging Tier...

• 
  Arms Control and European Security

• 
  Culture, Identity, and Information Technology in the 21st Century: Implications for U.S. National Se...

• 
  2012-13 Key Strategic Issues List

• 
  Against All Odds: Relations between NATO and the MENA Region

Survey: Russia and Arms Control: Are There Opportunities for the Obama Administration?

1. How would you rate the writing and overall quality?

12345

2. Is the content relevant for influencing present and future debates?

YesNoNo Opinion

Your Comments (No URLs Allowed):

If you'd like a reply to your comments, provide your email:
(optional)

Also by the Author/Editor:

Perspectives on Russian Foreign Policy
Arms Control and European Security
Can Russia Reform? Economic, Political, and Military Perspectives
Russian Nuclear Weapons: Past, Present, and Future
Arms Control and Proliferation Challenges to the Reset Policy
Russia in the Arctic
Central Asian Security Trends: Views from Europe and Russia
Russian Military Politics and Russia's 2010 Defense Doctrine

View other pubs in the following categories:

Europe and Russia
Military Strategy and Policy
National Security Strategy
Russia