.Russia Fears Weaker Obama, Rise of ‘Military Establishment’
May 11 (Bloomberg) -- Russia’s Foreign Ministry is concerned popular support for President Barack Obama in the U.S. may wane, allowing leaders more antagonistic toward Russia to gain control over foreign policy.
“The military, intelligence and foreign policy establishment of the U.S.A.” is seeking to “return to the confrontational policies of the last administration,” Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov wrote in a 70-page strategy report prepared for President Dmitry Medvedev.
Obama has “transformative potential” as a leader and any weakening of his position could lead to increased tensions between the U.S. and Russia, Lavrov said in the draft document, a copy of which was published on the website of Russian Newsweek magazine. The Kremlin’s press service said only that Medvedev “hasn’t taken any action in relation to this document so far.”
Fifty percent of Americans approve of the job Obama is doing, down from 69 percent at the start of his presidency in January 2009, according to the latest Gallup poll. Obama succeeded George W. Bush as president five months after Russia fought a five-day war with U.S.-ally Georgia, souring relations between the former Cold War foes. The U.S. and Russia have since vowed to “reset” relations, culminating with their signing last month of a historic accord to reduce nuclear weapons.
Medvedev’s best course of action regarding the U.S. is “to build an effective model of mutually beneficial and equitable cooperation,” Lavrov wrote. The policy recommendations involve more than 60 countries, including China, Iran, the European Union and its member states.
Germany, France Favored
In Europe, Russia’s priority should be Germany and the “cross-penetration” of the two economies, the report said. Within the European Union, Russia should favor the Franco-German “tandem,” as well as Italy and Spain, because they have the most “positive attitude toward Russia,” the report said.
“This document obviously answers the call President Medvedev made in his address to parliament last year to use foreign policy to support modernization,” said Sergei Karaganov, head of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, a Moscow-based research group.
Closer to home, the ministry said Russia’s government should help companies acquire assets in the former Soviet Union, particularly Ukraine, Belarus and the three Baltic states.
There are good deals to be had for key enterprises in these countries, “taking into account the decline in their investment attractiveness for EU countries and the serious decline in prices for their national assets,” the report said.
In Central Asia, Russia should seek to acquire enterprises that were once part of the Soviet Union’s military-industrial complex, the Foreign Ministry said.
Businessweek
Sounds like O, has him where he want him
“The military, intelligence and foreign policy establishment of the U.S.A.” is seeking to “return to the confrontational policies of the last administration,” Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov wrote in a 70-page strategy report prepared for President Dmitry Medvedev.
Obama has “transformative potential” as a leader and any weakening of his position could lead to increased tensions between the U.S. and Russia, Lavrov said in the draft document, a copy of which was published on the website of Russian Newsweek magazine. The Kremlin’s press service said only that Medvedev “hasn’t taken any action in relation to this document so far.”
Fifty percent of Americans approve of the job Obama is doing, down from 69 percent at the start of his presidency in January 2009, according to the latest Gallup poll. Obama succeeded George W. Bush as president five months after Russia fought a five-day war with U.S.-ally Georgia, souring relations between the former Cold War foes. The U.S. and Russia have since vowed to “reset” relations, culminating with their signing last month of a historic accord to reduce nuclear weapons.
Medvedev’s best course of action regarding the U.S. is “to build an effective model of mutually beneficial and equitable cooperation,” Lavrov wrote. The policy recommendations involve more than 60 countries, including China, Iran, the European Union and its member states.
Germany, France Favored
In Europe, Russia’s priority should be Germany and the “cross-penetration” of the two economies, the report said. Within the European Union, Russia should favor the Franco-German “tandem,” as well as Italy and Spain, because they have the most “positive attitude toward Russia,” the report said.
“This document obviously answers the call President Medvedev made in his address to parliament last year to use foreign policy to support modernization,” said Sergei Karaganov, head of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, a Moscow-based research group.
Closer to home, the ministry said Russia’s government should help companies acquire assets in the former Soviet Union, particularly Ukraine, Belarus and the three Baltic states.
There are good deals to be had for key enterprises in these countries, “taking into account the decline in their investment attractiveness for EU countries and the serious decline in prices for their national assets,” the report said.
In Central Asia, Russia should seek to acquire enterprises that were once part of the Soviet Union’s military-industrial complex, the Foreign Ministry said.
Businessweek
Sounds like O, has him where he want him
posted by madtom at 10:00 PM
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