Getting U.S.-Russia Policy Right

Project Expert

Thomas Graham
Thomas Graham

Distinguished Fellow

About the Project

Despite the current focus on the U.S.-China rivalry, U.S.-Russian relations are of no less consequence for America’s national interest and global peace and security. The two nuclear superpowers remain critical to peace and stability on the vast Eurasian supercontinent; their cooperation is essential to mastering urgent global challenges, such as nuclear proliferation and climate change. A twenty five-year effort to build an enduring cooperative relationship collapsed in 2014 with Russia’s seizure of Crimea. Deteriorating relations since then have raised to an alarming level the risk of military confrontation that could escalate to nuclear exchanges. Why did the animosity between these powers reach this point? Looking forward, how can the United States reduce the risks to acceptable levels without unduly compromising its core interests and principles? Drawing on some forty years of work on Russia-related issues in and out of government, including a tour on the National Security Council staff as the senior officer responsible for Russia policy, I explore those questions in roundtables and writings, building on my book, Getting Russia Right, which was published in October 2023.