Pavle Nedić

The authors of this paper examine the possible change of course in the United States foreign policy and strategic adjustment towards Russia in international relations. Although the United States were the sole superpower in the world after the end of the Cold War, the contemporary international system is marked by growing multipolarity. This change in the international arena is caused by the rise of two revisionist great powers – China and Russia. Although China represents the US’ main geopolitical rival, Russia does not lack the ambition to influence current world affairs. Possible relative gain in Sino-American rivalry for the United States could be achieved through closer cooperation with Russia. Although this hypothetical appeasement could be beneficial for the US, the authors of this paper take the stance that rapprochement between the two countries is currently unlikely. Using neoclassical realism as a theoretical framework, the paper examines the possible US-Russian strategic cooperation, including both external and internal factors that influence state foreign policy and strategic adjustment. The paper also examines the US opening to China during the Cold War under the administration of President Richard Nixon and compares it to the contemporary state of world affairs.

The cooperation between the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China has been developing since the end of the Cold War, but they were not in the foreign policy focus of one another. The Ukrainian Crisis in 2014 changed this situation. As a consequence of a dramatic decline in the relationship with the USA and EU, Russia turned to more intensive cooperation with China, that is particularly developing in the military and security issues and energetics. The two countries realized several important arms and military technology trade contracts. Joint military exercises are more frequent and conducted in more provocative locations. Additionally, China’s energy consumption is increasing, and Russia has positioned itself as one of its primary suppliers of these resources. Chinese companies have a share in several important Russian energy projects and Chinese banks are willing to give significant loans for their completion. Since the worsening of Moscow and Beijing’s relationship with Western countries is likely to continue in the future, the cooperation between Russia and China in these areas will further develop. Still, a formal Russian-Chinese alliance is not to be expected.

Book review : Zbigniew Brzezinski. 1997. The Grand Chessboard: American Primacy and Its Geostrategic Imperatives. New York: Basic Books, p. 240.