A 2009 "reset" helped improve relations between Russia and the United States, but there still exists a divide over a variety of issues, particularly a U.S. missile defense shield in Europe. Russia is wary of any potential U.S. military action (Reuters) against Iran, and has also blocked the UN Security Council (BBC) from voting on a draft resolution calling for a transfer of power in Syria, a resolution the United States strongly supports. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's expected return to the presidency in 2012 (Reuters) could undermine some of the advances in relations made in conjunction with current President Dmitry Medvedev, who is known for less nationalistic rhetoric.

The reset has, however, yielded some significant breakthroughs on trade and reducing nuclear weapons stockpiles. In particular, Russia's recent accession to the World Trade Organization could strengthen economic ties between the two nations. In addition, after the reset, Russia allowed NATO (WSJ) to ship supplies through the country to Afghanistan, providing a safer route than the main passageway through Pakistan. However, Russia's objections to the proposed missile shield for Europe--which the United States wants in order to defend against a potential attack by Iran--led it to threaten to cut off that supply route as well as deploy its own missiles (NYT) and withdraw from a nuclear arms reduction treaty in late 2011.

Some GOP candidates see Russia as a potential competitor and a security challenge, while others take an approach similar to President Obama's in looking for opportunities for improvement on issues such as trade.

Editor's Note: Click here for more CFR Issue Trackers and other 2012 campaign resources, which examine the foreign policy and national security dimensions of the presidential race.

Barack Obama

Democratic Incumbent

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The "reset" of relations with Russia is considered one of Obama's major foreign policy achievements. Obama has called the New START Treaty, which limits the number of deployed nuclear warheads to 1,550 each, down from 2,200, "a cornerstone of our relations with Russia."

In joint remarks with Medvedev in November 2011, Obama cited the New START Treaty, the 123 Agreement dealing with civilian nuclear cooperation, and Russia's WTO accession as positive steps stemming from warmer relations. In addition, under Obama, the United States reached an accord with Russia over Iran sanctions.

In addition to backing Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization (Reuters), which Russia had sought for nearly two decades, Obama is expected to push for a repeal of the Jackson-Vanik amendment (MoscowTimes), which would end Cold-War era trade restrictions and allow permanent normalization of trade relations.

Ron Paul

Republican Candidate

In an interview with Russia Today during the 2008 campaign, Paul said, "If we're friends with Russia and we trade with Russia, I think there's less likely chance that we'll ever fight with Russia."

Mitt Romney

Republican Candidate

In an October 2011 white paper, the Romney campaign laid out "a strategy to discourage aggressive or expansionist behavior on the part of Russia and encourage democratic political and economic reform." In particular, Romney would review the implementation of the New START treaty and other arms control policies. He also would seek to reduce Europe's reliance on Russia as a source of energy, including working with the private sector to access untapped shale energy resources in western Europe.

Romney also would seek to curb Russia's "ambitions to its south by enhancing diplomatic ties, increasing military training and assistance, and negotiating trade pacts and educational exchanges with Central Asian states," according to the white paper. He also opposed (WashPost) Russia's accession to the WTO.

With Vladimir Putin's expected return to the presidency in 2012, Romney has expressed concern about "a resurgent Russia, led by a man who believes the Soviet Union was great, not evil."

In late March 2012, Romney said Russia "is without question our number one geopolitical foe" (CNN) that routinely blocks U.S. attempts to put checks on the world's "infamous actors," through its position on the United Nations Security Council. "Russia continues to support Syria, supports Iran, has fought us with the crippling sanctions we wanted to have the world put in place against Iran," Romney said. "Russia is not a friendly character on the world stage." In an op-ed for Foreign Policy, Romney again accused Russia of "obstructionism at the United Nations" on a whole raft of issues. "Across the board, it has been a thorn in our side on questions vital to America's national security," Romney wrote.

Newt Gingrich (*withdrew)

Editor's Note: Gingrich withdrew his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination on May 2, 2012.

Regarding cyber-security threats emanating from Russia, Gingrich has said that he would seek to engage Russia and China (Forbes) in a high-level conversation and present them with an ultimatum saying "there are games we're not going to tolerate being played; we either need an armed truce or we're going to engage as aggressively as you are." Gingrich said the talks should be "top secret" and include people from the defense sector.

He also cited Russia in discussing his support for U.S. space exploration, including a colony on the moon. "We will have commercial near-Earth activities that include science, tourism, and manufacturing, because it is in our interest to acquire so much experience in space that we clearly have a capacity that the Chinese and the Russians will never come anywhere close to matching," Gingrich said in January 2012 (CSMonitor).

Rick Santorum (*withdrew)

Editor's Note: Santorum withdrew his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination on April 10, 2012.

Santorum's stance on this issue is unknown.