摘要
Over the past 15 years since the disintegration of the former Soviet Union, four administrations of America under Bill Clinton,George Bush father and son, have been planning a new type of Russia strategy by going beyond the Cold War containment approach. Such a new strategy gradually took shape in the course of constant tuning between continuity and change in response to profound, complicated vicissitudes in bilateral contacts. This article starts with a relatively static angle of a portrayal of the rationale for, ultimate goal and basic structure of Washington＇s strategy toward Moscow. It then attempts some analysis of its adjustments since the second Iraq war together with its possible future orientation, so as to better capture the trends down the road.
Washington’s strategy toward Moscow highlights historical connection, Russia’s status in U.S. global strategy, its significant role in America’s reshaping of “transitional nations” and the “third party” factor in the Washington-Moscow equation. Nevertheless, with changes in bilateral ties since the Iraq war, Washington has been making corresponding adjustments in its Russia strategy under the guideline of “patient engagement, high vigilance and scrupulous management.”
