The History of the Russia and U. S relations
Research Paper Study Guide
Choose any topic related to the US foreign relations. It can be either conceptual focusing on the US foreign policy
priorities (isolationism, hegemony, interventionism, bipolar world, etc.) or/and case studies (US-China relations, US –
Russia relations, US or the case of your choice).
Your paper should be 2000 words in length, in the APA format. You can use any other referencing format, but you have
to be consistent throughout the paper.
It should have a thesis and main points, supporting your analysis with specific and relevant evidences in a well-
organized manner.
Please find below the rubric for grading the research paper.
Solution
Introduction
Internal security is important for the survival of any country in the international system.
The relationship between Russia and the United States is one of the key bilateral relations in the
world as the implications being beyond their control. Russia and the US have common interests
in a different set of areas inclusive of regional security in Eurasia and Europe and
nonproliferation. Apart from the security concern Russian is a major player in the efforts by the
U.S to fight climate change. The reality of multipolarity and globalization is that it permits
people to talk about global security. The USA and Russia cold war were terminated in the year
2014 following the eruption of the Ukraine crisis. However, for over 200 years the United States
and Russia have had a multi-faced form of diplomatic relationship to an extent that they even
shared a land border at a time when Russia had some settlement in Fort Ross in California
(Jackson, 2018). Within this period, these two countries have been competing for economic and
political influence in order to meet international challenges. In the year 2007, government and
public organizations in Russia and the United States marked the bicentennial for diplomatic
relations with the events indicating the history and depth of the relationship. As a result, this
paper will conduct a depth analysis of the U.S Russia relations through conducting a thorough
analysis of various views by different authors.
The History of the Russia and U. S relations
Russia selling Alaska to the United State government during the mid-19 th century marked
the beginning of an active era of Russian Support and commercial joint ventures with the United
States during the American civil war. During the 20 th century, there were tense relations, but the
countries remained to somehow cooperate and work. However, at that time The US did not
US AND RUSSIA RELATIONS 3
recognize the need for the Soviet Union until 1933 when Russia offered them humanitarian
assistance during the famine in 1921-1923. In spite of the differences that separated these
countries the Soviet and the Americans came together in fighting the shared enemy during the
Second World War. The Soviet Union took part in the Lend-Lease program where the U.S
offered supplies to the Allies. Following the break of the Soviet Union in the year 1991 as well
as the Cold War the relationship between Russia and U.S took a new twist and the contacts
between the citizens of these countries increased rapidly inclusive of diversity (Beehner, 2005).
American and Russia work together daily both multilaterally and bilaterally in a variety of ways.
The two countries work together to fight HIV/AID, terrorism, infectious diseases, nuclear arms
proliferation among other international challenges. In spite of that, there are some things and
issues in which these two countries do not agree on.
U.S and Russia relations
The relationship between Russia and the U.S is very competitive that does not come as a
surprise to the citizens within these two states. Competition has actually been the prevailing
element since the US emerged as the in international power during the end of the 19 th century.
The US and the Russia Empire together with Japan were actually competing with each other in
influencing Manchuria. The main factors behind the troubled history are therefore competition
between these two great powers within the inherent condition of international relations. In
regards to prosperity and security Russia for a long time have been preoccupied with the issue of
securing internal unrest and external foe, a sparsely populated vast and multiethnic area with few
physical barriers (Aje & Chidozie, 2017). Russia to that end has continued to take refuge within
the strategic depth while at the same time pushing the borders outwards from the heartland of
Russia and restricting influences within Russia. The U.S, on the other hand, announced its
US AND RUSSIA RELATIONS 4
dominant in North America during the mid 19 th century, which has been physically securing
owing to the weak neighbors to the South and East of the vast oceans. The U.S as a trading
nation with rare exception focused abroad not obtains physical, territorial control but instead to
set up markets secure resources and American goods to boost economic growth. While Russia
was searching for expansion they ran up against expansion in search of markets by the
Americans were East Asia was the first followed by Europe. Tension, however, increased during
the cold war when Soviet autarky was seeking to expand rejection against American dynamism
of economic to expand the search for a free market. The prosperity of America jeopardized the
security of Russia and the vice-versa. Thus, during the end of the 19 th century, each of these
states began to pursue vis-a-vis policy containment where Russia was to limit American
commercial expansion while America was limiting Russia territorial expansion.
In addition to that, the varying needs for well-being and security also influenced a major
division in their ideas. Russia wanted a Westphalian view of sovereignty and international
management by a series of understanding among the great powers in their search for security.
The US, on the other hand, preferred an international order that is conducive enough for them to
carry out with their commercial penetration hence they did not want a restriction of influence.
The U.S agreed on the rules to regulate commercial activities inclusive of geopolitical, enforcing
rules and rivalry with shared responsibility for solving disputes (Hamilton, 2018).
Owing to these differences in their approach for prosperity and security as contrasting
systems of value the American democracy and republicanism against the authoritarianism is
mainly based on the former Marxist and later nationalist principles that are highly influenced by
universalism and exceptionalism which have strengthened the strategic competition between
them. An improvement in the relations between this state could actually result in the non-
US AND RUSSIA RELATIONS 5
proliferation project as well as anti-terrorism cooperation. However, an improved relationship
with Russia might need the U.S to put down their Kremlin annexation of Crimea opposition as
well as lifting sanctions against the top Russian leaders to prevent land grabbing from Ukraine.
The state of the U.S and Russia relationship
For over two decades the bilateral relationship between the U. S and Russia have cycled
the periods of confrontation and cooperation while at the same time the Ukraine and Syria
tensions are buffeting these relationships. Russia and the U.S continued to need each other in
other in fighting other important things (Burns, 2019). Donald Trump is the first American
president who has not been able to unrest Russia and U.S relations. The former presidents,
Clinton, Bush, and Obama their reset did not take long they offer provided people a period of
break in the historical tense between them which enabled to achieve key policy objectives.
On the other hand, Trump affinity for the president of Russia and Russia, in general, has
been the main problem making it difficult to stabilize the relationship between these two
countries. Suspicious of Trump motivations and chaotic leadership style, the administration of
Trump as well as the U.S Congress they are the policy of the US under the Russians. The
president role has actually been reduced such that they can endorse their decisions (Welt, 2017).
Clearly, the relationship between Russia and the West moves in unpredictable ways europhia,
expediency, disenchantment, and crisis and finally reset (Graham, 2019). The current crisis
threatening this relationship is Russia seizure of Crimea and the Ukraine which indicates no
abating signs. While there is no rest both states are actually nursing their problems and seeking
ways that they can punish each other. This clearly indicates that the good times between these
two countries do not always rest for a long time.
US AND RUSSIA RELATIONS 6
The key focus of Trump to improve the relationship between Russia and the U.S is also likely to
reach out in the Middle East. According to Trump, there is a need for the U.S to reevaluate the
strategy they are using in fighting ISIS especially Syria. The U.S has frequently sought for ways
that they can join Russia in fighting ISIS through forging agreements with the goal of ending the
Syria war.
In addition to that, the United States and Russia are to invest in billions of money in
modernizing nuclear arsenals even though it is positive from the reliability and safety standpoint
the two are actually creating the impression of a fresh arms race. The wars in Ukraine and Syria
have cost the lives of thousands of people while millions of them have been displaced across
Europe and the Middle East and beyond. Moscow and Washington each have control levers and
resources of influence that are important in ultimately managing the conflicts. In spite of the
efforts by the officials to negotiate small steps like the implementation of Mink agreements
within Ukraine and obtaining talks in Geneva, there is no political will. However, the meeting
between Russian and the U.S president could be the best opportunity for these two states to
display their interest towards the progress.
As mentioned earlier, although there are a crisis between American and Russia relationship the
two countries are still interested in each other. However, they are against the ongoing battling
narratives official (Rojansky & Kortunov, 2018). Russia still lines up in Moscow to obtain U.S
embassy while in Russia the largest number of foreigner that comes to visit is American which
clearly displayed during the World Cup.
The Moscow Summit
US AND RUSSIA RELATIONS 7
The Moscow summit was held with the goal of improving the relationship between U-S
and Russia. Biden vice president actually declared the intention of the summit was to reset the
relations between Russia and U.S this following the fallen relationship since 1991. The
administration in the summit strongly believed in establishing a positive relationship (Pifer,
2016).
The White House understood that in order for them to change the tone and the substance
of the relationship the U.S has to shift on to some aspects of interest to Moscow. At that time,
Obama administration embraced a multilateral way to handle transnational threats like pandemic
disease, climate change, and nuclear proliferation to enhance US- Russian relationship, through
reducing their strategic arms Russia and U.S can top in strengthening the regime of nuclear non-
proliferation (Collinson & Diamond, 2016). In addition to that, these countries also share an
interest in the fighting pandemic disease that does not have any respect for global borders. They
also work together in handling climatic change that poses a huge threat to the international scale.
Moscow intention was mainly to improve the relationship between these countries by all
accounts, therefore, the goal is to build a solid footing.
Conclusion
Based on the research above on the U.S and Russia relations there is no doubt that these
states can influence the world in different forms of settings. U.S and Russia cooperating with
each other they can significantly help in solving major issues in global security but when they
fail to agree the effect can be critical. In addition, to that U.S and Russia are significant in the
existing global system. The two countries, however, must try to accommodate the interest of
each other in order to achieve a common goal. In addition to that, the two countries must agree
US AND RUSSIA RELATIONS 8
that cooperation is important between them to enable them to mutually benefit from each other
without burdening the other. Additionally, the history of the relations between Russia and the
United States shows that there are no personal contacts of the leaders between the two countries.
The ongoing conflict is not an emerging cold war and neither will it be. However, important
lessons ought to be learned from the conflicts which have occurred earlier. The point is summit
diplomacy is not for only celebrating big victories but for also building momentum to small steps
and daily interactions which have ensured that the war does not turn hot. Hence, is clear that the
U.S and Russia relationship is unpredictable but when stabilized could actually help these states
to boost their economy and obtain international security.
US AND RUSSIA RELATIONS 9
References
Aje, O. O., & Chidozie, F. (2017). US-RUSSIA RELATIONS: CHALLENGES AND
IMPLICATIONS FOR GLOBAL SECURITY.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325092197_US-
RUSSIA_RELATIONS_CHALLENGES_AND_IMPLICATIONS_FOR_GLOBAL_SE
CURITY
Beehner, L. (2005, May 6). RUSSIA: U.S.-Russia Relations. Retrieved from
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/russia-us-russia-relations
Burns, W. J. (2019, March 8). How the U.S.-Russian Relationship Went Bad. Retrieved from
https://carnegieendowment.org/2019/03/08/how-u.s.-russian-relationship-went-bad-pub-
78543
Collinson, S., & Diamond, J. (2016, December 14). Good, bad and ugly of closer US-Russia
ties. Retrieved from https://edition.cnn.com/2016/12/14/politics/russia-us-trump-reset-
pros-cons/index.html
Graham Jr., T. (2019, January 6). U.S.-Russian Relations in a New Era. Retrieved from
https://nationalinterest.org/feature/us-russian-relations-new-era-40637
Hamilton, R. (2018, December 14). The Reset That Wasn't: The Permanent Crisis of U.S.-
Russia Relations. Retrieved from https://www.fpri.org/article/2018/12/the-reset-that-
wasnt-the-permanent-crisis-of-u-s-russia-relations/'
US AND RUSSIA RELATIONS 10
Jackson, J. (2018, December 7). U.S.-Russian Relations, 1989-2019: Self-Awareness and
History. Retrieved from https://www.hudson.org/research/14726-u-s-russian-relations-
1989-2019-self-awareness-and-history
Pifer, S. (2016, July 28). The Moscow Summit and Improving the U.S.-Russian Relationship.
Retrieved from https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/the-moscow-summit-and-
improving-the-u-s-russian-relationship/
Rojansky, M., & Kortunov, A. (2018, June 22). These are the Benefits of a U.S.-Russia Summit.
Retrieved from https://nationalinterest.org/feature/these-are-the-benefits-us-russia-
summit-26371
Welt, C. (2017, August 21). Russia: Background and U.S. Policy. Retrieved from
https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R44775.pdf
Order with us today for a quality custom paper on the above topic or any other topic!
What Awaits you:
- High Quality custom-written papers
- Automatic plagiarism check
- On-time delivery guarantee
- Masters and PhD-level writers
- 100% Privacy and Confidentiality