US. Foreign Policy throttling the growth of Russian Economy - Essay Example

U.S. Foreign Policy Throttling the Growth of the Russian Economy Introduction The fall of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War left Russia with unresolved issues that the West vehemently needed to change. The eminent split of the Soviet Union had Russia with an area almost 70 percent of the former USSR. Moreover, all the nuclear warheads estimated to be about 27000 remain in the hands of Russia, making it a foe to the American national security interest[Tal03]. These factors influence policy in Washington to dislodge the power of the Russian Federation. The Russian relation with the U.S. has been shaky because of its domestic trajectory, regional influence, and its international deportment. Russia’s stance on Iran’s nuclear facilities, its increased energy activities in Europe as well as poor democratic processes have worried the U.S. for over two decades. Moreover, the Russia Georgia conflict was against the interests of America in the region. For these reasons, the U.S. has applied a tightened foreign policy toward Russia with the aim of weakening its economy. This paper discusses a specific example of foreign policies used by the U.S. to check the aggression of Russia in the region as well as around the world. Body The aggressive foreign policy by the Reagan administration brought the eminent collapse of the Soviet Union (Rutland & Dubinsky, 2008, p. 2). The U.S. support for guerrillas fighting in Afghanistan had negative consequences for the Russian defence spending. In addition, the U.S. programme in the defence system made the Soviet counteract with a similar programme, but it was expensive given that Russia could not match the U.S. defence spending[Tal03]. This brought strain to the Russian domestic economy. The programme coded “Star wars” negatively affected the Soviet political and economic institutions[Pet08]. The measures by President Reagan aimed at undermining the Soviet economy and bringing about domestic revolution against the communist regime. The Clinton Administration had a well-calculated foreign policy relations with Russia. They embarked on treating Russia as a close partner, but at the same time considered them as an inferior economy. Clinton offered kind word with little palpable evidence to support his rhetoric. This was meant to secure U.S. expansion of NATO to the Eastern Europe and secure the threat posed by Russia to the U.S. allies in Easter Europe. Moreover, the increased presence of U.S. influence in Eastern Europe is a calculated move to recap Russia of its inferiority[Joh97]. The U.S. over years had an interest in influencing the policy of countries that split from the former Soviet Union. There has been increased aid and technical assistance that has helped enhance the American interest in the region. The ‘orange and tulip’ revolution in Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan in 2004-2005 is an example of the measure taken to weaken Russia economically and it influence in the region[Jim14]. The Western worlds have offered to help Russia with a robust social safety programme[Jam03]. However, Clinton declined the initiative arguing that American deserved better programme first than any other nation. However, this was in his foreign policy measures to undermine the Russia Federation. Putin in several occasion has accused the U.S. of ‘unipolar’ policies that threaten it economy. The narrative of regime change has been accepted by the majority of Russian citizens leading to worsened bilateral ties between the U.S. and Russia. Jeffrey Manoff and Andrew Kuching argue that the main aim of a strained relation between Russia and the U.S. is aimed to worsen the Russian economy[Jef15]. The U.S. aims to foment a discontent that would breed to the ouster of Putin’s regime. The U.S. has sustained a simultaneous foreign policy that exasperates Russia’s progressive ambitions while sustaining a window for rendezvous and collaboration. Currently, the U.S. has entrenched sanctions to Russia for its activities in Crimea and the conflicts in Ukraine[Jef15]. The sanctions have succeeded in imposing costs on the Russian economy but have failed to end it support of the annexation of Crimea and support for Ukraine separatists. For this reason, the U.S. has increased support for the Ukrainian leaders to sustain an onslaught on the separatist and defeat economic benefit that Russia would gain for expanding its territory[Sim07]. The Putin’s aggressive revisionist has been a costly exercise that has left the country’s economy so weak to compete with that of the United States[DeD15]. This has been a motive for Washington foreign policy to weaken Moscow capabilities. Moreover, a political and military assistance to Ukraine and tightened sanctions have put Moscow at an increased political pressure from its citizens[Jef15]. Vladimir Putin’s involvement in the Ukraine poses a threat the Europe. His action against Helsinki Accord of 1975, the Paris charter and Budapest memorandum of 1990 and 1994 respectively ensured tough sanctions from the West[Dav15]. To the surprise of the Russian authority, the U.S. and the EU reacted with sanctions that targeted Putin’s officials and their entities. The EU together with U.S. imposed an asset freeze and suctioned visa for 21 Moscow official who were involved in the annexation of Crimea. The U.S. led economic sanctions has put Russia in great financial crisis. By the end of 2014, Russia witnessed increased capital flight, decreased values of the rubble and rising inflation and interest rates[Dav15]. Moreover, the country is facing decreased foreign currency reserve that is below $400 billion[Dav15]. The sanctions against Putin regime have made it difficult for Russian companies to finance their debt with the Western banks. In addition, the crisis in Russian bank is depleting the country’s foreign reserve as they seek bailouts to salvage their eminent closure[Dav15]. The support of Russia in shooting down the Malaysian airline enhanced unilateral and stronger U.S. - EU dealing with Russia. Trade between Russia, U.S., and EU is at it minimum and almost being halted. Conclusion The U.S. has achieved it mission in undermining the Russia economic growth with its foreign policies since and before the breakdown of USSR. The U.S. has aimed in throttling Russian economy to decrease the threat posed by the Russian Federation to the America, Europe and the rest of the world. The fact that the country have a massive nuclear weapon the U.S. has dedicated to weakening the aggression of Putin’s regime. References Tal03: , (Talbott, 2003), Pet08: , (Rutland & Dubinsky, 2008, p. 2), Joh97: , (John Dumbrell, 1997, pp. 157-158), Jim14: , (Nichol, 2014, p. 38), Jam03: , (Goldgeier & McFaul, 2003, p. 107), Jef15: , (Mankoff & Kuchins, 2015, p. 6), Jef15: , (Mankoff & Kuchins, 2015, p. 8), Sim07: , (Simes, 2007), DeD15: , (DeDominicis, 2015, p. 66), Dav15: , (Kramer, 2015, p. 9), Dav15: , (Kramer, 2015, p. 12), Read More