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Obama, Europe and Russia
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
In this blog:
http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/blog/blog.aspx?ID=2885
Judah Grunstein writes his opinions on the improvement of relations between Europe and the U.S. and also on what he sees should be the new goals for a western joint effort in an attempt to improve relations with Russia among others.
Do you think Obama will be successful in improving US relations with Europe? Will that also result in a common effort to improve the political climate with Russia as well?
I for one think he will be successful in improving European relations in the light of recent visits to Europe. But Russia? - Think we have to wait and see. Economic growth has enabled Russia to pursue it's attempt to restore the former position of a Superpower, so I don't think any attemt will help that if Russia doesn't decide to loosen up a bit. However, perhaps the financial recention will force Russia to work more on their relations?
http://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/blog/blog.aspx?ID=2885
Judah Grunstein writes his opinions on the improvement of relations between Europe and the U.S. and also on what he sees should be the new goals for a western joint effort in an attempt to improve relations with Russia among others.
Do you think Obama will be successful in improving US relations with Europe? Will that also result in a common effort to improve the political climate with Russia as well?
I for one think he will be successful in improving European relations in the light of recent visits to Europe. But Russia? - Think we have to wait and see. Economic growth has enabled Russia to pursue it's attempt to restore the former position of a Superpower, so I don't think any attemt will help that if Russia doesn't decide to loosen up a bit. However, perhaps the financial recention will force Russia to work more on their relations?
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Comments
Will Obama improve relations? Have to wait and see next year.
Also worried about other countries too!
- Abandon plans for the ultra stupid and pointless missile defence shield
- Stop antagonising Russia by trying to bring NATO to its very doorstep by signing up all its neighbours to it
End of the problem.
Yes, I agree to that, would at least give them fewer excuses. But I still think Russia would contiune to state their position as a superpower. Simply because, they've upgraded the army so much during the past few years which stems from their improved economy. Whether they can continue to do so during these financial times remains to see
@ I'm with stupid: you are definitely right. But even if they wouldn't have changed that, Putin is still Russia's silent leader.
As for Obama, I sure hope he is smart enough to see beyond the surface of everything. Nevertheless, there's nothing but a good thing to improve relations with any country.
It's not Obama who has the diplomacy problem...
I've spent a lot of time in Russian communities, speak Russian fluently etc.
From what I've observed, most Russians primarily recognize brute strength, and the only way they'll respect you is if you somehow overpower them (of course I've met Russians who aren't like that, but that's still the general trend).
Also, I think it's evident in history, that Russia's foreign policy throughout the centuries has been:
1.Expand
2.Decrease
3.-go to step 1-
Obama is very intelligent, and where he might go wrong is expecting the same kind of intelligence from Moscow. That's just not going to happen. Diplomacy with Russian leadership is pointless anyway, because they think nothing of their word. As soon as you can't enforce whatever treaty you've made with them, they'll break it.
Now don't get me wrong, I know wonderful Russians (my mother amongst them), but the Russian government has always been crap. I hope Obama understands that relations with Russia are, for the most part, a game of "who's on top".