The Limits of Partnership

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This gripping account of U.S.-Russian relations since the Soviet Union's collapse offers a unique insider perspective from a leading expert. American presidents have sought to build a strong partnership but have faced deep-seated mistrust rooted in the Cold War. For the U.S., Russia remains a crucial focus due to its nuclear arsenal, strategic location, and influence on American interests. The narrative explores the persistent challenges in advancing this relationship and questions the prospects for future cooperation. Angela Stent, who advised on Russia under Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, highlights the ongoing contentious issues—terrorism, missile defense, Iran, nuclear proliferation, Afghanistan, and the greater Middle East—that have plagued every administration since the USSR's fall. Stent details how both Clinton and Bush invested in personal ties with Boris Yeltsin and Vladimir Putin, only to leave office with relations deteriorating. Barack Obama briefly improved ties, but these were later undermined by a resentful Putin regime. The text calls for a fundamental reassessment of U.S.-Russian relations and suggests a pathway to address the urgent challenges both nations face.