The United States and Russia are among the superpowers that shape the landscape of global geopolitical issues. Given the critical role that the two nations play, it is vital for these countries to preserve peace and work towards enhancing cooperation. It is therefore unfortunate and regrettable that despite concerted efforts, Russia and the US have been unable to develop sustainably warm relations. However, it is important to recognize the steps that the two nations have instituted to improve relations and promote global peace. Since the end of the cold war in 1991, Russia and the US embarked on a journey to encourage constructive dialogue and engage in shared operations that deliver mutual benefit.
During the Cold War, the relations between the US and Russia were tense and heated. There were moments when it was feared that the tensions would escalate and evolve into a violent confrontation. For example, the Cuban missile crisis threatened to devolve into a costly and deadly war. In the years leading up to the collapse of the Soviet Union, American leaders reached out to their Russian counterparts with the goal of establishing friendlier ties and economic cooperation. For example, in January 1991, the then US President George Bush met with Aleksandr Bessmertnykh who served as the Foreign Minister of the Soviet Union (DOS, n.d). While various subjects were discussed in this meeting, particular focus was given to intervening in the Iraq-Kuwait War. Other initiatives that occurred in 1991 include efforts by the Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev to promote peace in the Gulf region and a meeting between President Bush and Gorbachev (DOS, n.d). The various initiatives on which the US and Russia collaborated indicate that with the end of the Cold War, the two nations strived to establish a new dynamic. This dynamic was to be characterized by peace-building campaigns and diplomacy.
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Historically, the US and Russia have been involved in a battle to assert dominance. While harsh rhetoric has been the key feature of this rhetoric, the two countries have also been in an arms race. This race has inspired the countries to invest huge amounts in building their nuclear arsenal. Whereas it is true that Russia and the US still hold significant amounts of nuclear weapons, they have taken encouraging steps to limit their arsenal. For example, in February 1990, there were discussions about implementing arms control measures (DOS, n.d). For the most part, the two countries have honored their pledges. There is no question that the end of the Cold War ushered in a new era where the US and Russia worked tirelessly to promote peace and build avenues for sober discussions regarding the threat that nuclear weapons posed to humanity.
The discussion above has revealed that after the Cold War, the US and Russia worked to create a new dynamic that was defined by collaboration and diplomacy. However, in the recent past, the relations between the two nations have deteriorated. In fact, there are some who feel that the relations are worse today than they were during the Cold War (Rhodan, 2017). Allegations that Russia hacked US systems in the lead up to the 2016 elections with the goal of interfering with the American electoral process are among the factors to blame for the worsening of relations (Cornwell, 2016). In response to these allegations, the US expelled dozens of Russian diplomats. Russia responded in kind. The US has also imposed economic sanctions on Russia and some of its high ranking officials. Another issue that has led to the deterioration of relations is the annexation of Crimea by Russia. Today, it is feared that Russia could meddle in the mid-term elections scheduled for November 2018. Russia’s attempts to disrupt the democratic process and the US imposition of sanctions will only undo the remarkable progress that the two countries have made in establishing friendlier ties.
In conclusion, the Cold War is among the lowest moments in the relations between Russia and the US. The two nations have since taken steps to repair relations and create a new dynamic. In the 1990s, the leaders of Russia and the US worked together to reduce tensions and promote peace in such regions as the Arab World. They also made commitments to work together on issues of shared interest. It is disappointing that the progress that the two countries made is being eroded. For global peace to be achieved, the US and Russia have to abandon their rhetoric and work together.
References
Cornwell, R. (2016). US and Russia relations fall to their worst since the Cold War.
Independent. Retrieved August 24, 2018 from
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/us-and-russia-relations-fall-to-their-worst-since-the-cold-war-a7501391.html
Rhodan, M. (2017). U.S.-Russia relations are ‘worse’ than during the Cold War, Kremlin
Spokesman says. Time. Retrieved August 24, 2018 from http://time.com/4722615/donald-trump-russia-cold-war-putin-kremlin/
U.S. Department of State (DOS). (n.d). United States relations with Russia: after the Cold War.
Retrieved August 24, 2018 from https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ho/pubs/fs/85962.htm
