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http://interaffairs.ru
Author : Yu. Shafranik
Chairman of the Council of the Union of Oil and Gas Producers of Russia, President of the World
Policy and Resources Foundation
HOW WILL RUSSIAN-U.S. RELATIONS develop in
2017? So far, from all indications, not according to the
best-case scenario.
Groundless accusations continue to be made against
Moscow, including its alleged involvement in hacking at-
tacks and interference in the U.S. election process. Rus-
sia's role in fighting ISIS, a terrorist organization banned
in Russia, is belittled. Meanwhile, the NATO armed
forces are stepping up their activity near our western borders.
The unprecedented worsening of relations between our countries over the past six years causes
particular concern. These relations are extremely asymmetric: The US's sharply negative and ab-
solutely biased interpretation of Russia's foreign policy actions increases the danger of uncon-
trolled processes in many regions.
Now it is up to the new U.S. administration to decide whether it will be possible within the next
one or two years to move from deterioration to stabilization and the subsequent improvement
of relations or whether the problems that have piled up will develop into a state of intense con-
frontation on many key issues.
In the final analysis, the "reset" of our relations that Barack Obama declared at the beginning
of his presidential career turned into a fierce attack against Russia's economy, policy and ideology.
During his presidency, a new cold war was effectively unleashed against Russia.
Today, the American push toward economic and military-political unipolarity is especially pro-
nounced in its relations with Russia. Nevertheless, I cannot rule out that conditions will emerge
in the White House and Congress for a review of ingrained prejudices and the lack of trust.
"THE WORLD IS IN CHAOS," former U.S. secretary of state Henry Kissinger said in a recent
interview. "Fundamental upheavals are occurring in many parts of the world simultaneously,
most of which are governed by disparate principles. We are therefore faced with two problems:
first, how to reduce regional chaos; second, how to create a coherent world order based on
agreed-upon principles that are necessary for the operation of the entire system."
Unfortunately, at this stage, the U.S. elite remains rather confrontational toward Russia. More
political, economic, defense, and ideological concessions are being demanded from its strategic
partner. However, our society can no longer put up with "retreating maneuvers." So, the country's
leadership, which is absolutely not in the mood for confrontation with anybody, does not intend
to abandon national interests. Nor does it intend to review international cooperation priorities
to suit the political situation of the moment.
Russia-U.S. Relations: From Confrontation to Forced Cooperation