The recent statement by the favorite Republican primaries and the most likely opponent of Barack Obama in the upcoming elections, Mitt Romney, that Russia for the United States remains a "geopolitical enemy number one", is justified. This opinion was expressed by The Chicago Tribune, noting that Russia at every opportunity puts a spoke in the wheel of American foreign policy.
"Russia, once an old foe, is again proving to be a major obstacle for America's foreign interests, and will continue to be a thorn in the country's side as long as oil prices remain high", writes columnist John Bennett.
That's a good geographical position, which provided Russia the opportunity to dispose of the huge reserves of hydrocarbons, the paper explains the possibility of Moscow to be of this "thorn". The paper refers to recent values of oil prices: $ 105 - at that price a barrel of oil (apparently, it is about the US light crude oil on the stock exchange NYMEH) was trading in mid-afternoon on Tuesday.
"Putin still aspires for Russia to be a superpower. There are only two ways for Russia to achieve that: nuclear weapons, and oil and natural gas sales", said Steven Pifer, a former US ambassador to Ukraine. He also notes that "if oil prices come down Putin will have some very tough decisions to make at home ... between guns versus butter". And most likely, say other experts, the Russian president will choose the "butter" that is, financial investments in the social sphere.
But even if oil and gas prices come down and there would not be options for increasing combat effectiveness, Moscow will still find a way to annoy Washington, the newspaper is sure. As it is happening now: Moscow is obstructing US efforts to force Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions. Or, for example, on Syria, Russia has acted unanimously with China vetoing western resolution in the United Nations Security Council.
Surely we can expect something similar with regard to North Korea preparing the launch of a ballistic missile, is sure the author of an article in The Chicago Tribune. It is to be noted that the Russian Foreign Ministry has expressed "deep concern" over North Korea's plans, but urged the international community to "accurately and correctly calibrated response" to the forthcoming launch.
Russia, in any case will follow the same line against the US, and it's not just the fact that Moscow is in these countries has strategic interests. It is just such a psychology of Russia, the newspaper writes.
"They have a very sovereigntist, non-interventionalist view of world affairs", the author writes. That means Moscow fundamentally opposes Western efforts to boss around the world's strongmen, with which Russian leaders have much in common, the newspaper concludes.
And soon, this pattern of behavior will be manifested in bilateral relations with the United States, says The International Herald Tribune. Newspaper's sources say that Putin's suspicion and mistrust of the United States is genuine, rather than mere electoral rhetoric.
"He allowed the reset to happen, though he never used the word. He is less of a natural diplomat than Medvedev, and has a less benign view of the United States", the article's author Charles Grant writes, and notes that the "reset" has brought practical benefits to both countries. In any case, Putin, and the next president of the United States are aware that there are reasons to prevent the deterioration of relations. But it will not a "reset": there will not that cordiality that prevailed between Obama and Medvedev.
"Russia, once an old foe, is again proving to be a major obstacle for America's foreign interests, and will continue to be a thorn in the country's side as long as oil prices remain high", writes columnist John Bennett.
That's a good geographical position, which provided Russia the opportunity to dispose of the huge reserves of hydrocarbons, the paper explains the possibility of Moscow to be of this "thorn". The paper refers to recent values of oil prices: $ 105 - at that price a barrel of oil (apparently, it is about the US light crude oil on the stock exchange NYMEH) was trading in mid-afternoon on Tuesday.
"Putin still aspires for Russia to be a superpower. There are only two ways for Russia to achieve that: nuclear weapons, and oil and natural gas sales", said Steven Pifer, a former US ambassador to Ukraine. He also notes that "if oil prices come down Putin will have some very tough decisions to make at home ... between guns versus butter". And most likely, say other experts, the Russian president will choose the "butter" that is, financial investments in the social sphere.
But even if oil and gas prices come down and there would not be options for increasing combat effectiveness, Moscow will still find a way to annoy Washington, the newspaper is sure. As it is happening now: Moscow is obstructing US efforts to force Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions. Or, for example, on Syria, Russia has acted unanimously with China vetoing western resolution in the United Nations Security Council.
Surely we can expect something similar with regard to North Korea preparing the launch of a ballistic missile, is sure the author of an article in The Chicago Tribune. It is to be noted that the Russian Foreign Ministry has expressed "deep concern" over North Korea's plans, but urged the international community to "accurately and correctly calibrated response" to the forthcoming launch.
Russia, in any case will follow the same line against the US, and it's not just the fact that Moscow is in these countries has strategic interests. It is just such a psychology of Russia, the newspaper writes.
"They have a very sovereigntist, non-interventionalist view of world affairs", the author writes. That means Moscow fundamentally opposes Western efforts to boss around the world's strongmen, with which Russian leaders have much in common, the newspaper concludes.
And soon, this pattern of behavior will be manifested in bilateral relations with the United States, says The International Herald Tribune. Newspaper's sources say that Putin's suspicion and mistrust of the United States is genuine, rather than mere electoral rhetoric.
"He allowed the reset to happen, though he never used the word. He is less of a natural diplomat than Medvedev, and has a less benign view of the United States", the article's author Charles Grant writes, and notes that the "reset" has brought practical benefits to both countries. In any case, Putin, and the next president of the United States are aware that there are reasons to prevent the deterioration of relations. But it will not a "reset": there will not that cordiality that prevailed between Obama and Medvedev.
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