In his congratulatory message on Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s election to the presidency, President Barack Obama highlighted achievements in U.S.-Russia relations with the current president, Dmitry Medvedev, over the past three years. He noted the new START agreement, Russia’s membership in the World Trade Organization this coming August, and cooperation on Iran.
But Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had called Russia’s parliamentary elections in December “neither free nor fair.” And as demonstrations in Russian cities raged over vote-rigging and fraud, Putin publicly accused Clinton of inciting the protests.
How Putin, whose election campaign was marked by harsh anti-Western rhetoric, will work with the West and NATO remains a question in the minds of most observers of the Russian scene.
It seems Putin may not yet be over the U.S. rebuff to his overtures during his first term as president (2000-08). He aspired to Russia’s membership in NATO, supported the U.S. as it acted against the Taliban in Afghanistan, and overlooked President George W. Bush’s withdrawal from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, which Moscow had always considered strategically important. But as the Bush White House became focused on Iraq after mid-2002, Russia was seemingly ignored.
Notwithstanding the Obama administration’s efforts to “reset” relations, major foreign policy differences remain, primarily on the U.S. plans to base a missile defense system in Europe and on Syria. Although the U.S. assures Russia that the system is not aimed at it, Russia’s opposition stems from its inability to match the non-nuclear conventional forces of the West, and thus its interest in retaining the only military advantage it has — its nuclear capability. As a main supplier of arms to Syria, Russia has justified its veto in the U.N. Security Council on the pretext that it was earlier hoodwinked into voting favorably in the U.N. for forceful action against Libya, and as NATO exceeded its mandate there, Russia is not going to let it happen again in Syria. Putin will have the opportunity to exchange foreign policy views with Obama as he visits Camp David for the G-8 Summit in May.
As he takes office, Putin will have his hands full with internal challenges. Russia needs to attract foreign direct investment, and foreign investors remain wary if the country is not strengthening the rule of law, effectively combating pervasive corruption, engaging in judicial reform, and protecting property rights. Russia’s membership in the WTO will compel it to follow the organization’s rules and its industry and business will face increasing competition. The World Trade Economic Forum currently ranks Russia 66th out of 142 countries for economic competitiveness.
On judicial reform, one Coloradan has has a significant impact. Since 1989, Sidney B. Brooks, a federal bankruptcy judge, has been frequently visiting Russia to train commercial court judges first under the auspices of the U.S. Agency for International Development, and more recently the U.S.-Russia Foundation, an influential non-governmental entity. He has also arranged visits of several dozen Russian judges to Colorado and other states. As he follows the Russian events closely, Judge Brooks feels that Russia has changed for the better in the last 20 years and those changes are irreversible. Russian judges, for example, are required to disclose their finances. Russia has routinely complied with the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights on human rights violations. And the recent demonstrations in several cities show an important advance — that people are no longer afraid to speak out.
Russia’s honorary consul here, Deborah Palmieri, is also keen to keep the lines of communication open between Russia and the Rocky Mountain region, promoting mutual business opportunities through seminars and exchanges.
Although the missile defense issue cannot be resolved until the presidential election, the U.S. can help Russia accelerate its positive changes. An important first step would be for Congress to repeal the 1974 Jackson-Vannick law, which was adopted when Russia prohibited Jews from emigrating, and which prevents the U.S. from giving Russia permanent normal trade status. Also, the U.S. should invite Russia to join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
We must recall that Russia has never experienced working democracy, market economy, or sound legal structure and infrastructure. However, it cannot escape the forces of globalization and communication, and it will have to be more engaged with the world community.
Ved P. Nanda (vnanda@ ) is John Evans Distinguished University Professor and director of the International Legal Studies Program at the University of Denver.
