Trump is being harshly criticized from the Republican right for chumming up to Vladimir Putin, especially in the context of Russia’s e-mail hacking. Yet on this issue, it is Trump not his critics who seems intent on renewed cooperation rather than conflict. Of course, one theory holds that Trump aims to improve relations with Russia mainly to put even more geopolitical pressure on China, which Trump may deem to be America’s real competitor.
Trump turns U.S. foreign policy thinking inside out: interview with The Times of London and Bild (Gilbert Doctorow)
In the interview, Donald Trump changed entirely the metrics by which sanctions on Russia would be lifted.
Russian lawmakers give mixed reaction to Trump’s nuclear cuts offer (CNBC)
Parliamentarians in Russia gave a mixed reaction on Monday to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s proposal to strike a deal on nuclear arms cuts in exchange for Washington lifting sanctions imposed on Moscow over the Ukraine crisis.
VIDEO: Stephen F. Cohen Talks To Tucker Carlson
On Friday, ACEWA Board Member, Nation contributing editor and Professor of Russian Studies Stephen F. Cohen spoke to FOX News Channel’s Tucker Carlson who asked: Will Trump work with Putin and if so, if that entirely a bad thing?
Conspiracy theories about Russia suggest an awful prospect (Anatol Lieven)
In his famous work on nationalism, Elie Kedourie drew attention to the terrifying innovation of the French Revolution in asserting that only a republican or “national” state enjoys real legitimacy–not just internally but on the world stage.
Trump’s Team Looks Smarter on Russia (Leonid Bershidsky)
Rex Tillerson made it clear at his confirmation hearing that he is not a fan of Vladimir Putin. That surprised many…
The US establishment, not the Kremlin, is undermining normalisation with Russia, says San Francisco State Professor
Washington has made it official: Russia is the enemy aiming to undermine not only the United States’ role in the international system, but the very political system upon which America is built.
The ‘Reverse Kissinger’ (Blake Franko)
Just as many saw Nixon’s China visit as an acquiescence toward the communist scourge, some today grumble that working with Putin will facilitate the rise of a new Russian Empire, with “Vlad the Invader” on the throne. These notions may make sense to Russophobes, but the Kremlin is not set on world domination
The Forgotten Interventions (Julian Emiridge)
The collective hysteria over fake news, Russia’s alleged role in the DNC hack, and the unsubstantiated kompramat that supposedly links Donald Trump to Vladimir Putin has reached a fever pitch.
Obama’s Unkept Promise on Nuclear War (Jonathan Marshall)
By ratcheting up tensions with Russia, U.S. national security is raising risks of accidental nuclear war with missiles still on hair-trigger alert — despite President Obama’s promises, writes Jonathan Marshall.
Schiller Chorus, NYPD and Russian Consulate Join To Honor Alexandrov Ensemble (Hudson Reporter)
A Russian United Nations representative, members of the NYPD color guard, the Bayonne Fire Department, and the veterans’ color guards, were present for the ceremony. On what was Christmas Day in Russia, the chorus presented a wreath and sang the Star Spangled Banner and the Russian National Anthem.
PODCAST: Who Are the Real Enemies of US National Security? (Stephen F. Cohen)
Nation Contributing Editor Stephen F. Cohen and John Batchelor continue their weekly discussions of the new US-Russian Cold War. (Previous installments are at TheNation.com). This installment comes in the immediate aftermath of allegations that the Kremlin possesses compromising materials, from sexual to financial, that would enable it to “blackmail” President-elect Trump.
A Bad Sign (Paul Robinson)
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is reshuffling his cabinet today, and the CBC reports that he will appoint Chrystia Freeland as Foreign Minister.
National interest, the same language of Beijing, Washington and Moscow
In 2017, the triangle of the US, China and Russia, the world’s three major powers, is going to see substantial changes. Until this past fall, it appeared that the trends that had been established in the last three years would continue.
We’ve been hacking elections for more than a century (Stephen Kinzer)
Condemning interference in foreign elections is eminently reasonable. The disingenuous howls of anti-Russian rage now echoing through Washington, however, ignore much history.
Intel agencies ask Americans to ‘trust, don’t verify’ in new Cold War (The Hill)
Just as the first casualty of war is said to be the truth, the first casualty of the new Cold War is irony.
Blaming Russia Will Only Hold America Back (Nicolai Petro)
While pundits debate whether or not we are really in a new Cold War, most fail to see that we are already in the middle of a new Red Scare—the third in the past century.
Bill Perry Is Terrified. Why Aren’t You? (Politico)
At this naked moment in the American experiment, when many people perceive civilization on the verge of blowing up in some metaphorical sense, there is an elderly man in California hoping to seize your attention about another possibility.
U.S. Pilots See Close Calls With Russian Jets Over Syria (WSJ)
The skies above Syria are an international incident waiting to happen, according to American pilots.
Legitimate Differences (Paul Grenier)
Given the recent near-hysteria over Russia’s alleged hacking of U.S. political email traffic, it is difficult to imagine a U.S.-Russia relationship established upon a peaceful footing—or, to put it another way, a relationship so stable and constructive that it no longer would depend on the vagaries of changing political personalities.