The State of the World: Explaining U.S. Strategy
The fall of the Soviet Union ended the European epoch, the period in which European power dominated the world. It left the United States as the only global power, something for which it was culturally and institutionally unprepared. Since the end of World War II, the United States had defined its foreign policy in terms of its confrontation with the Soviet Union. Virtually everything it did around the world in some fashion related to this confrontation. The fall of the Soviet Union simultaneously freed the United States from a dangerous confrontation and eliminated the focus of its foreign policy. READ MORE
The Curse of China’s Identity Fixation
As China’s leadership prepares for its transition to the fifth generation, a fixation on identity and core interests is a troubling sign for U.S. ties. READ MORE
Nazarbaev supports antinuclear attitude of Obama
Kazakhstan has declared antinuclear support for the U.S. It also became a model of nuclear disarmament for the whole world, KazTAG agency reported citing U.S. President Barack Obama. READ MORE
US Envoy Sees Closer Moscow Ties After Putin's Election
U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul, long an advocate of democracy in Russia, arrived in Moscow two months ago, and he walked straight into a groundswell of anti-Americanism. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was running for president and his supporters accused the new ambassador of supporting anti-Putin street protests. Putin won the election easily three weeks ago, and now McFaul talks about where he thinks U.S.-Russia relations go from here. READ MORE
Future of U.S.-Azerbaijani Relations
The strong relations between Azerbaijan and the United States are very important for both countries’ national and energy security. Both countries need to understand the importance of cooperation and need to take action to reinforce relations with each other. READ MORE
Recalibrating the U.S. Strategy in Afghanistan
The protests in Afghanistan over the burning of copies of the Quran confiscated from detainees at Bagram Airfield have led to more than two dozen deaths, and have severely — perhaps even permanently — undermined the United States’ determined efforts to win hearts and minds in the country. The killing of NATO troops by members of Afghanistan’s security forces, or militants in their uniforms, is a dangerous new trend, and one that severely complicates relations between international security forces and their local hosts. It may now be time to consider new strategies by which to achieve U.S. and Western goals in Afghanistan. READ MORE
Seoul Summit: A View From Moscow
International nuclear agency IAEA should play central role READ MORE
Nazarbayev-Obama meeting in Seoul to further strengthen strategic partnership between the U.S. and Kazakhstan, ambassador Idrissov
The upcoming high-level meeting of Presidents Nursultan Nazarbayev and Barack Obama at the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul will further strengthen the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and the United States, according to Erlan Idrissov, Kazakhstan's Ambassador to the U.S. READ MORE
What Putin Means for Washington
Washington had four years with the young, agreeable Dmitri Medvedev as its principal Russian interlocutor. But last week’s election confirmed that soon U.S. diplomats will once again be dealing directly with Vladimir Putin. What does Putin’s return mean for Russian foreign policy, and how should Washington adjust its own approach now that Putin, rather than Medvedev, will be sitting across the table? READ MORE
Building with BRICs in 2012
Investors hurt by last year’s market turmoil have enjoyed an encouraging turnaround, with many of the worst performing asset classes from 2011 having pivoted to become the standout performers of the new year. Such has been the case with emerging markets. READ MORE
