U.S.-Russian relations are founded on a complex history among trade and leadership conflicts, both countries have fought to be the world’s foremost superpower. Every possible space for negotiation was crushed due to ‘ego’.
NATO OBLIGATION
The North Atlantic treaty Organization established in 1949 constitutes a system of collective defense of its members which includes US, Canada with 26 other nations including most parts of Europe; if Russia declares a war or attack on European nation who is a member of NATO, then US has to defend with its army even if they get along well with Russia. NATO can have a serious impact on treaties involving Russia with US or vice versa.
DEFENDING RIVAL CHINA
The CHINA-US-RUSSIA relation is the most complicated as they are unique and dominate the world in their respective field. China and Russia have joined hands for anti-democracy and anti-US as they both have similar enemies for the past 4 decades .Both countries are against western influence. China used its veto power 6 times and Russia 11 times. This excessive use of the veto has been understood as both a challenge to Western leadership and a tool to slow down the pace of American military interference in the Middle East. However, there are chances that US’s President-elect Donald Trump might negotiate policy differences to keep dominance across the globe.
But here after the US election:
A Russian economist said “it would not be a same thing as before, we can expect progress in trade and internal issues” between world’s top superpowers. After the election, the President-elect Donald Trump envisions a bright future for the world by defeating ISIS and other radical Islamic terror groups in which he sees Putin as an ally to fight with him.
Here is what Trump has in his bag
Donald trump has been given a chance to mould American treaties; and he wishes to improve the same with Russia. To reshape and to turn it into a potential for a better place to live in, but the question arises is; why would he do that? Doesn’t he know about the past judgment that failed to bring the countries closer, the result ended up in cold war, and ultimately loss for both the nations! But Donald trump has recognized what America lost while fighting with Russia, [the trading, the tension of super power-removed] Donald Trump shall see in the near future, it to be resolved and make world peace.
Russia being recognized for nuclear power, minerals, and defense force. No country would want to earn its wrath. It’s better to make them a friend rather than an enemy, the president being a soviet man from top to bottom with such vision that brought Russia from a depression to a number six spot in GDP. Putin showed interest in trading with US during the election night by congratulating the winner and it clearly defines the future of both superpowers.
If Donald Trump has made his decision to be friendly with Russia then he must have an angle to look at. The other leaders before Trump saw Russia as a border question of Ukraine; or Syria issue or cold war issue. Every leader thought of not being with Russia and made it worse to resolve, but an issue that can bring both countries closer is “defeating of ISIS”.
Trump might ease U.S. sanctions against Russian businesses and individuals once he takes the oath. And ultimately there might be interest of US as now they have growing tensions with Europe and with stability of middle-east hot spots. If Trump fails to retain the relations he might end up left alone, on the other hand this could benefit Russia at a larger scale because of growing of economic decline of long term. The energy markets, the failure to modernize itself to cope with western countries. Russia can see hope to resolve all problems
But nevertheless both countries are a superpower. They make deal which the world has to follow and if they both merge and share common interests to save the world, this can be a step towards a new dawn.
A new dawn, however, may prove as a sigh relief for the world at large but what does it have in store for India, the world’s seventh largest economy and the world’s second most populous nation?
As of today, India’s relations with the US are on an up-swing and the same cannot be said for Russia. Since Mr.Modi took on the mantle of Prime Ministership in the summer of 2014 he has visited the United States nearly 4 times and a slew of defence deals have been signed the most notable one being called as ‘ LEMOA’ but when you observe from the Russian point of view this has clearly not been looked upon favorably by the Russians and hence they did not heed our request .
The growing moderation of relations between Russia and India can be clearly seen when the Russians disregarded our warnings to not to proceed with the scheduled military exercises with Pakistan after the dastardly attacks in Uri, though there were news reports which led to pre-mature celebration that Russia had acceded to our not-so-well thought out ‘ request’ to put in milder terms, however, when the ISPR Pakistan put out the photos of the Russians energetically competing with the Pakistanis during the session clearly our claims had been busted and a egg had been thrown on our face.
It must be clearly understood without any second thoughts by our doubting thomases, that we cannot script for ourselves in the world of intrigue and power politics by begging and pondering for help at the door step of either Russia or USA or for that matter any credible power in the post-9/11 era. The Chinese have had for themselves a definite place in the world which they saw as their snatched right and that right that they have taken back with a strong structure of comprehensive national power in place.
But the case in India is quite baffling when Mr. Modi goes around the world speaking about the 3d’s which he claims are India’s distinct advantages and on the other hand we behave like cry-baby when the Chinese block our entry into the NSG or do not support our initiatives in banning Masood Azhar, such a behaviour does not behoove well on our part.
To be on par with the comity of nations on the world stage as a stable and credible power we must first shed our tradition of being a self-doubting nation and having an inferiority complex.
We must work towards our chosen destiny with single-minded focus without any hesitations only then can we aspire to be a great power.
By Madhav Ashar and Ameya Vombathkere
One of the articles from The Economic Transcript (December issue).
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