Russia in Global Affairs

With great-power competition, announced by the U.S. administration, underway, competition in space can develop into “confrontation” and involve new participants. In order to reduce conflict potential, it is necessary to lay the foundations for expanding and strengthening international cooperation.

The crisis in U.S.-Russia relationship jeopardizes existing negotiated arms control regimes and, as a result, strategic stability all over the world. However, a successful dialogue in this field could generate momentum that might help create conditions for U.S. and Russian officials to tackle larger and more ambitious issues.

A new agreement on deeper reductions in strategic offensive arms—limiting the number of strategic warheads to 1,000 for each party—could serve as a positive example of cooperation and give a chance to reach mutual understanding in other areas.

Industrial espionage is capable of making up—promptly and at a relatively low cost—for the shortage of some components critically important for developing a certain industry. But as soon as the state begins to use industrial espionage systematically, this “remedy” instantly turns into a killer drug.

The United States will develop new weapons in cooperation with its closest allies (Great Britain, Israel, and possibly Japan), which will accelerate R&D and reduce production and procurement costs for America, but at the same time make it harder for Russia to provide an adequate and timely response.

The crisis in relations between Russia and the West brings to mind the methods of risk management devised during the previous confrontation. The participants in a roundtable discussion held by the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy believe that a majority of problems can be resolved using a rational approach – through consultations.

The combined BRICS market is enough to develop any defense or civilian technology and keep it competitive. The BRICS’ Technological Alliance can ensure the “scale effect” – the main condition for developing technologies.