Analysts, EU Leaders Urge New Approach To Russia

By Grant Swanson

Since President-Elect Obama’s successful victory, many world leaders have decided to offer him their advice. One surprising leader to offer a positive outlook was Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Medvedev wishes to meet with President-Elect Obama to discuss the current mistrust between the two Countries. A small scale ‘cold war’ has begun to develop between the two powers. Arms productions have begun to increase as both sides attempt to flex their muscles. Medvedev believes that President-Elect Obama may be the key to resolving this conflict. EU members agree, thinking that Obama will develop a new approach to international relations with Russia. For instance, EU members worry about Bush’s proposal to have the Ukraine and Georgia become NATO members. This is because it will irritate and confuse Russia. These same EU members are hopeful Obama will not push for such actions. The EU also believes that the US needs to rethink their interactions with Russia…moving away from trying to assimilate Russia into the Western world. The EU claims that Putin has made it clear this will never happen. Menvedev’s own speech alluded to this when he refused to back down from Georgia and also expressed anger at NATO expansion. But, as stated before, both the EU and the Russian President Menvedev believe Obama will be able to address these concerns. I hope, for President-Elect Obama’s sake, that they are right.