Tensions between the US and Russia have recently increased in several regional contexts from the Middle East to the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea. The US has been watching with growing concern Russian actions along its European border and in Syria. For its part, Russia has been critical of NATO’s role in Moscow’s neighbourhood. Disagreements over arms control treaties and direct violations of them have increased distrust in an environment where the significance of nuclear weapons is growing. What are the possibilities to relieve tensions and construct a common approach towards strategic issues? How do the changing great power constellations and the new military ambitiousness of China affect US-Russian relations?
This year’s Helsinki Summer Session is organized in conjunction with FIIA’s ongoing research project entitled ‘Changing great power politics and its implications for Finland’. The project is part of the implementation of the Finnish Government Plan for Analysis, Assessment and Research activities for 2018.