Can Berlin and Washington Agree on Russia
Szabo, Stephen F.
The Washington Quarterly,
October 2009, v32, #4, pp23-41
"Both Russia and Germany are back on the US agenda. Russia will be a key element of a wide array of policies to the Obama administration, including dealing with Iran and the construction of a broader nonproliferation regime, energy security, nuclear arms reductions, and Afghanistan. Russia policy will also be central to US designs for NATO, including how to deal with Georgia and Ukraine, and the viability of a pan-European security structure. Germany will be the key player in Europe on dealing with Russia. Given the lack of any consensus in Europe over Russia, Berlin plays a decisive role in shaping a coherent and successful Russia policy. Yet, while Germany is crucial to any Western policy consensus on Russia, there are real differences in interests, cultures, and approaches between Berlin and Washington, which could lead to dangerous divisions if not handled well. There is a real danger that without a common approach, Germany could increasingly play the role of a mediator between Russia and the US. Here, Szabo discusses the sources of divergence and convergence of interests between Berlin and Washington and examines whether they could develop a common strategy."
Stephen F. Szabo is the Executive Director of the Transatlantic Academy.
Go to the article at:
http://www.twq.com/09october/docs/09oct_Szabo.pdf
F6/05-09, posted November 20, 2009
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