World press on Russia's foreign policy (January 31, 2015)"How likely is war with Russia in the next 10 years," Foreign Policy asks. The magazine conducted a poll among more than 1000 scholars about whether the U.S. and Russia might become at war with each other. "the IR scholars surveyed believe that on the whole, war between these powers is unlikely. However, they also believe that war between the United States and China is less likely than war between the United States and Russia," the article reads. Scholars turned out to be less likely to believe that the U.S. and Russia are entering a new Cold War: only 38 % of scholars such a conflict was possible. "Ukraine's Conflict With Russia Isn't America's Fight," Forbes magazine contributor Doug Bandow believes. "Agreeing to a compromise might be as hard for Washington as Kiev. The latter has more to lose, but U.S. policymakers have come to believe that they have been anointed to govern the entire earth. However, while the U.S. and Europe can weaken Russia’s economy and target Moscow’s elite, they are not willing to risk military conflict with a nuclear-armed power. Nor should they... Washington policymakers should put America’s interest before that of other nations. In which case there’s no justification for jumping into the Ukraine-Russia imbroglio," Bandow writes. Bandow gives a number of reasons for Washington not to involve itself in the conflict. "Ukraine isn’t important geographically; Russia matters more than Ukraine to America; blame is widely shared for Ukraine’s travails; Washington never guaranteed Ukraine’s security; Vladimir Putin is not Hitler and Russia is not Nazi Germany (or Stalin’s Soviet Union); and there’s no genocide. But these are just the start. Seven more complete the Baker’s Dozen," the article reads. Bandow's other arguments are the following: Russia is a military strong country; Moscow has more interests in Ukraine than the West does; "Alliances should enhance U.S. security, not provide foreign charity"; if Ukraine becomes part of NATO, it might act as "transmission belts of war"; the U.S. foreign policy should be focused more on America's interests rather than other nations' interests; Europe shall act rather than America; a settlement must be negotiated as the only possible solution to the crisis. "The world is an unfair place and many people are stuck in bad neighborhoods. Weaker parties must make accommodations as necessary. During the Cold War Finland maintained its domestic liberties by not antagonizing the Soviet Union. Taiwan lives in the shadow of an ever more powerful China. Qatar abandoned its independent foreign policy under pressure from its Gulf neighbors. Small Caribbean and European nations are bullied by America and the European Union on tax matters. The world is similarly unfair to Ukraine today. America and Europe will not go to war on Kiev’s behalf. Ukrainians must recognize their limitations in deciding what to do," Brandow believes.An article headlined "Russia and Ukraine: Understanding Putin’s plans" appeared today in the Economist. "The annexation of Crimea and the war in Ukraine have thus helped Mr Putin to consolidate power at home. But as the economy deteriorates, he cannot afford to let go of eastern Ukraine and seems trapped by the logic of escalating conflict," the article reads. "The danger is not that Russia declares war on NATO, but that its recklessness could have unintended consequences. There is also a risk that Ukraine, a country of 45m people with a will of its own, despite what Mr Putin thinks, could be provoked into full-scale war. All this may make the situation in some ways even more perilous than in the cold war," the article concludes.The Washington Post reports that Russia is seeking closer cooperation with Pakistan. The newspaper believes that the partnership "could eventually shift historic alliances in South Asia." "Pakistan’s efforts to kindle ties with Moscow come as relations between the West and Russia continue to worsen, which may prompt it to look for new trading partners in Asia. Pakistanis are also worried the Indian army is moving toward dominance in the conventional arms race," the article reads. Pakistan is China's largest arms exporter and closer ties between China and Russia are facilitating a relations between Pakistan and Moscow, the article reports.
"How likely is war with Russia in the next 10 years," Foreign Policy asks. The magazine conducted a poll among more than 1000 scholars about whether the U.S. and Russia might become at war with each other. "the IR scholars surveyed believe that on the whole, war between these powers is unlikely. However, they also believe that war between the United States and China is less likely than war between the United States and Russia," the article reads. Scholars turned out to be less likely to believe that the U.S. and Russia are entering a new Cold War: only 38 % of scholars such a conflict was possible.
"Ukraine's Conflict With Russia Isn't America's Fight," Forbes magazine contributor Doug Bandow believes. "Agreeing to a compromise might be as hard for Washington as Kiev. The latter has more to lose, but U.S. policymakers have come to believe that they have been anointed to govern the entire earth. However, while the U.S. and Europe can weaken Russia’s economy and target Moscow’s elite, they are not willing to risk military conflict with a nuclear-armed power. Nor should they... Washington policymakers should put America’s interest before that of other nations. In which case there’s no justification for jumping into the Ukraine-Russia imbroglio," Bandow writes. Bandow gives a number of reasons for Washington not to involve itself in the conflict. "Ukraine isn’t important geographically; Russia matters more than Ukraine to America; blame is widely shared for Ukraine’s travails; Washington never guaranteed Ukraine’s security; Vladimir Putin is not Hitler and Russia is not Nazi Germany (or Stalin’s Soviet Union); and there’s no genocide. But these are just the start. Seven more complete the Baker’s Dozen," the article reads. Bandow's other arguments are the following: Russia is a military strong country; Moscow has more interests in Ukraine than the West does; "Alliances should enhance U.S. security, not provide foreign charity"; if Ukraine becomes part of NATO, it might act as "transmission belts of war"; the U.S. foreign policy should be focused more on America's interests rather than other nations' interests; Europe shall act rather than America; a settlement must be negotiated as the only possible solution to the crisis. "The world is an unfair place and many people are stuck in bad neighborhoods. Weaker parties must make accommodations as necessary. During the Cold War Finland maintained its domestic liberties by not antagonizing the Soviet Union. Taiwan lives in the shadow of an ever more powerful China. Qatar abandoned its independent foreign policy under pressure from its Gulf neighbors. Small Caribbean and European nations are bullied by America and the European Union on tax matters. The world is similarly unfair to Ukraine today. America and Europe will not go to war on Kiev’s behalf. Ukrainians must recognize their limitations in deciding what to do," Bandow believes.
An article headlined "Russia and Ukraine: Understanding Putin’s plans" appeared today in the Economist. "The annexation of Crimea and the war in Ukraine have thus helped Mr Putin to consolidate power at home. But as the economy deteriorates, he cannot afford to let go of eastern Ukraine and seems trapped by the logic of escalating conflict," the article reads. "The danger is not that Russia declares war on NATO, but that its recklessness could have unintended consequences. There is also a risk that Ukraine, a country of 45m people with a will of its own, despite what Mr Putin thinks, could be provoked into full-scale war. All this may make the situation in some ways even more perilous than in the cold war," the article concludes.
The Washington Post reports that Russia is seeking closer cooperation with Pakistan. The newspaper believes that the partnership "could eventually shift historic alliances in South Asia." "Pakistan’s efforts to kindle ties with Moscow come as relations between the West and Russia continue to worsen, which may prompt it to look for new trading partners in Asia. Pakistanis are also worried the Indian army is moving toward dominance in the conventional arms race," the article reads. Pakistan is China's largest arms exporter and closer ties between China and Russia are facilitating a relations between Pakistan and Moscow, the article reports.
