Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 02/2009

Russian–American Security Relations After Georgia

Rose Gottemoeller

October 2008

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Abstract

The crisis in Georgia bluntly revealed the failure by the United States and Russia to create a closer working relationship after the Cold War. With both countries now in presidential transition, the potential for new misunderstandings and tensions grows even greater.

Established and well-understood treaties and agreements, which have previously inspired at least predictability and confidence in the bilateral relationship, could help establish a new book of rules both countries can embrace, explains Rose Gottemoeller in a new policy brief.