The author writes that over the past twenty years the world has begun to look more "normal" as countries have regained the wherewithal to push back against U.S. agenda setting. In that time, Russia has moved from a position of seeking closer ties with the West to one of competition with its Cold War adversaries. The author questions whether this competition is compatible with an overall cooperative framework, and contends that if it isn't, the U.S. policy goal in Eurasia of preventing antagonistic cooperation between Russia and China must be reevaluated. The tactic for competition with Russia must also be decided, with the two choices being to compel Russia to change course from direct opposition to U.S. interests or to reduce its status as a threat. The author designates Russia as a "near-peer competitor," which must be transitioned into either a "near-peer partner" or a "non-peer competitor." He ends with a quote from Jill Dougherty: "For our own security, we need a bi-partisan, sustainable policy based on a realistic definition of why we even care about Russia."

Read the full text at The National Interest.

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