US-Russia Relations Since The Cold War: Evolution And Current Geopolitical Landscape

DR. Christopher Zambakari, B.S., MBA, MIS, LP.D., PHF
Founder & CEO, The Zambakari Advisory
Hartley B. and Ruth B. Barker Endowed Rotary Peace Fellow
Assistant Editor, Bulletin of The Sudan Studies Association

Credit: Victority/Shutterstock

In our Spring 2023 Special Issue: “The Great Power Competition in Eurasia,” we invited experts, including Ambassador Charles W. Freeman Jr., to analyze the historical context of the Ukraine conflict. We examine the role of the U.S.-led NATO alliance, China's emergence, and more. Freeman, a former U.S. assistant secretary of defense and diplomat, warns against military-centric diplomacy. His Q&A, 'Ukraine, China, and the Global Failure of US Policy,' explores nuclear risks and the need for global partnership. Freeman fears the worst, if the U.S. doesn’t turn its focus away from military prowess and territorialism and, instead, concentrate on being a better world partner.

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The end of the Cold War saw a significant shift in the geopolitical landscape, with the United States emerging as the world's sole superpower. The relationship between the US and Russia has been characterized by periods of cooperation and tension, with both countries having different approaches to global issues.
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In the early 1990s, there was a period of cooperation between the two countries, with the US providing aid to Russia and supporting its integration into the global economy. However, tensions began to rise in the late 1990s, with the expansion of NATO and the US-led intervention in Kosovo.

The 2000s saw a brief period of cooperation under President George W. Bush's administration, but tensions rose again under President Obama's tenure, particularly over issues such as missile defense and the conflict in Syria.

The current relationship between the US and Russia is one of hostility, with issues such as election interference, sanctions, and military aggression in Ukraine and Georgia causing significant tensions.

US-China Relations in Historical Context
The United States and China have had a complex relationship since the Communist Party came to power in 1949. The US initially supported the Nationalist government in Taiwan, but after its defeat, recognized the People's Republic of China as the legitimate government of China in 1979.

The relationship between the two countries has been characterized by economic interdependence, with China becoming the United States' largest trading partner. However, tensions have risen in recent years over issues such as intellectual property theft, trade imbalances, and human rights abuses.

The US has also been critical of China's aggressive territorial claims in the South China Sea and its crackdown on pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.

US-China Growing Hostilities over Taiwan
Taiwan has been a point of contention between the US and China for decades, with the US providing military support to Taiwan despite China's claims to the island. In recent years, tensions have risen over the issue, with China becoming increasingly assertive in its claims to Taiwan.

The US has also taken a more confrontational approach, with the Trump and Biden administrations increasing arms sales to Taiwan and sending high-level officials to visit the island.

The War in Ukraine
The conflict in Ukraine began in 2014 when pro-Russian separatists in the eastern region of the country declared independence. The conflict escalated when Russia annexed Crimea, leading to sanctions from the US and its allies.

The conflict has since become a proxy war between Russia and the West, with the US providing military and economic support to Ukraine. The conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths and significant displacement.

Former US Ambassador Chas W. Freeman Jr. has been critical of the US's approach to the conflict in Ukraine, arguing that it has been counterproductive and has only served to escalate tensions with Russia. He has also been critical of the US's confrontational approach to China, arguing that a more cooperative approach is needed to address global issues such as climate change and nuclear proliferation.

Freeman also believes that the US's support for Taiwan is unnecessarily provocative and that a more constructive dialogue is needed to address the issue. He has advocated for a more nuanced approach to US foreign policy, one that takes into account the complexities of global issues and seeks to find common ground with other nations.

Way Forward
While Freeman's views represent a counterpoint to mainstream US foreign policy, there are others who argue that a more confrontational approach is necessary to address issues such as China's human rights abuses and territorial claims.

There are also those who argue that a more forceful response is needed to address Russian aggression in Ukraine and its "interference in US elections."

Ultimately, the best way forward will require a nuanced approach that takes into account the complexities of global issues and seeks to find common ground with other nations. This will require a willingness to engage in constructive dialogue and compromise, rather than resorting to aggressive tactics that only serve to escalate tensions.

Conclusion
The current geopolitical landscape is complex and fraught with tension, with the US's relationship with Russia and China at the forefront of global issues. While there are no easy solutions to these challenges, a more nuanced and cooperative approach is needed to address the underlying causes of conflict and find common ground with other nations.

By examining the historical context of US-Russia and US-China relations and analyzing the challenges over finding common ground in Ukraine and Taiwan, we can begin to develop a more effective foreign policy that seeks to promote peace and stability in the world.

About the Author
Christopher Zambakari holds a Doctor of Law and Policy degree from Northeastern University and is chief executive officer of The Zambakari Advisory. He is a Hartley B. and Ruth B. Barker Endowed Rotary Peace Fellow, and the assistant editor of The Bulletin of the Sudan Studies Association. His area of research and expertise is international law and security, political reform and economic development, governance and democracy, conflict management and prevention, and nation- and state-building processes in Africa and in the Middle East. His work has been published in leading law, economic, and public policy journals.