On The Readjustments Of Russo-U.S. Relations During Putin's Presidency

Vladimir Putin is a distinguished leader in Russia's history and a figure of worldwide influence on the global political stage as well.His strongman image has profound impacts on Russia's domestic and foreign policies,and Russo-U.S.relations during his presidency are markedly influenced by it.There is no,however,systemic literatures on Russo-U.S.relations of this period,only because Putin's presidential term ends just now.This article is thus a useful attempt toward such a direction in this field.Taking a process-tracing approach,this article will explore the process and characteristics of the readjustments of Russo-U.S.relations during Putin's presidency,and put this process into the contexts of adjustments of Russia's strategy toward the U.S.so as to demonstrate the contexts,contents,characteristics,and impacts of the readjustments of Russo-U.S.relations.The article consists largely of four sections,which are,respectively,the contexts,contents,characteristics,and their impacts to Sino-Russian and Sino-U.S.relations. In the conclusion,I will briefly summarize the point of view in the article,and analyse the future trends of Russo-U.S.relations,and China's strategic countermeasures.The first section analyses the contexts of readjustments of Russo-U.S.relations during Putin's presidency,which is conducted from four aspects:the evolutions of distribution of power of both sides,the complex and structural conflicts of their interests,common demands for the maintenance of stability of bilateral relations,and the personal factors of President Putin.The section argues that distribution of power,patterns of interests,and structure of contradictions constitute a general framework,which determines the basic trajectory of readjustments of Russo-American relations in this period.Russo-U.S.relations maintain a cooperation-based overall situation,the precondition of which is Russia's compromises and concessions.With the acceleration of restoration of its strength,however,Russo-American relations underwent a series of up-and-down readjustments,which was rare since the end of the Cold War and created far-reaching impacts on the world and regional situation.The second section explores the contents of readjustments of Russo-U.S.relations during this period.Taking a method of vertical phase-dividing and horizontal categorization combined,this section will divide the readjustments of Russo-U.S.relations in this period vertically into five phases,on the basis of four defining events with far-reaching influences, and horizontally explore the concrete contents of readjustments of Russo-U.S.relations in this period,respectively from the political,security,military,and diplomatic perspective.Except the ephemeral counter-terrorism partnership after September 11 2001,readjustments of Russo-U.S.relations during this period experienced a "challenge-response" style track: cooperation and conflict coexist and extend simultaneously as two threads;the two countries have conflict while cooperating,but the conflict does not prevent cooperation.Since the Iraq War,however,the aspects of contradiction and conflict gradually increased.Furthermore, with Putin's presidential term drawing to a close,this rising trend of contradiction and conflict significantly speed upThe third section will refine the characteristics of readjustments of Russo-U.S.relations. According to the analyses of this section,in the readjustments of Russo-U.S.relations during this period,there are four characteristics of particular concern:first,because of the special status and influence of both sides,the readjustments of their bilateral relations often have a ever-spreading effect Second,the overall stability and the continuous conflict are intertwined. Overall stability is always the main theme of Russo-U.S.relations and the goal pursued and defended by both sides.At the same time,the strategic and deep-rooted contradictions have not been eliminated,but rather tend to intensify over time,which makes breadth,depth and intensity of struggle and conflict between the two countries increase steadily.Third,the posture of offensive and defensive of the two countries overlaps.American offensive vs. Russian defensive are characteristic of the general trend in Russo-U.S.relations,but the United States attaches some importance to strategy and moderation while attacking,and is considerate of Russia's reasonable concerns and great power mentality,at certain times,on certain topics and in some areas,Russia adopt necessary counterpunch and fight-back while defending.Four,when readjusting its relations with the U.S.,Russia deliberately keeps the bottom-line of "Bucket-without-Breaking".Russia adopts counterpunch and fight-back occasionally,but within the limits of bilateral relations not been broken down.The fourth section will elaborate the impacts of readjustments of Russo-U.S.relations to Sino-Russian and Sino-U.S.relations,the readjustments of Russo-U.S.relations will have impacts on both Sino-Russian and Sino-U.S.relations,but the correlation of Russo-U.S. relations with Sino-Russian relations is much larger than that with Sino-U.S.relations.Russia has the need to take advantage of China to check the United States on the one hand,and the demand to stabilize its relations with the U.S.through compromise on the other,and in most cases,the urgency of the latter overshadows the former,which determines that Russia's willingness to develop Russo-Chinese relations is to a large extent subject to the state of Russo-U.S.relations.Whenever there are tensions in Russo-U.S.relations,Russia will passionately develop Russo-Chinese relations.However,When Russia finds necessity and possibility to stabilize Russo-U.S.relations,it will not hesitate to make a compromise in exchange for cooperation with the United States,and its willingness to develop Russo-Chinese relations decreases significantly,and consequently puts China under a relatively disadvantageous position.In the conclusion,I will briefly summarize the basic contents in this article,and analyse the challenges of current Russo-U.S.relations,future trends of them,and the strategic measures of China to cope with the future readjustments of Russo-U.S.relations.In foreseeable future,I arguer,it is largely unlikely for Russo-U.S.relations to take a path of overall cooperation or overall confrontation.Along with the gradual restoration of Russia's status of strength,however,the U.S fear and containment of Russia will consequently increase, and Russia is bound to step up its efforts to counter the United States.In order to maintain the long-run stability of both Sino-Russian and Sino-U.S.relations,China should at least do something in the following three areas:First,we should be ready to see stability and development in Russo-U.S.relations.Second,it is important to prevent the transformation of Sino-Russian strategic cooperation into joint confrontation of the United States.Finally,it is also necessary to actively promote the establishment of trilateral strategic dialogue mechanism among China,Russia and the United States.