International Affairs: Analyzing US Relations with Russia and China

This essay delves into the intricacies of US foreign relations, arguing that Russia holds greater importance for US national interests than China. It begins by outlining crucial national interests, including preventing the spread of nuclear weapons, maintaining a balance of power in Asia and Europe, and preventing terrorist attacks. The essay then contrasts the US's neutral stance and potential for cooperation with Russia on these fronts with the more complex and competitive relationship it shares with China, encompassing economic, security, and human rights issues. The analysis highlights the significance of Russia's role in non-proliferation efforts and its strategic importance in regions like Afghanistan, while also addressing the challenges posed by China's growing economic and military influence. Ultimately, the essay provides a comprehensive overview of the dynamics shaping US foreign policy and the strategic considerations that favor a stronger focus on relations with Russia.

Running Head: FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE US INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 1
“Russia is more important to the USA’s national interests than China.”
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FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE US INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 2
Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Thesis Statement:.............................................................................................................................2
Crucial National Interests................................................................................................................2
Neutral Relations between US and Russia......................................................................................3
Three Reasons..................................................................................................................................5
Related to Peace...........................................................................................................................5
Aspects Of Prosperity..................................................................................................................6
Aspects Of Principle....................................................................................................................6
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................7
References........................................................................................................................................8

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Introduction
After around twenty years post the disintegration of Soviet Union and the emergence of Russia
which resulted in the independence of the state, the capital, Moscow has not been included in the
list of the strategic rivals of America. According to the current diplomatic and political dynamics
in the international relations, Russia does not acquire the position of being a friend or an enemy
of United States of America. This has been due to the fact that regardless of the World Wars in
the past, Moscow and Russia have become successful in overcoming the conformation of Cold
War. However, the fact that both the world powers have are yet to develop sustainable relations
of cooperation (Agnew, 2016).
As per the present day, US and Russia have a much better bilateral relationship which is of
crucial national interest of America than that of China. The relationship of the United States with
China encompasses a wide range of issues right from security to broad issues of economy like
trade, human rights and environment (Andreas, et al., 2014). The fact that the relation of US
with China always has been under question always exists. Moreover, there always exists a heated
environment between the diplomatic responses that United States and China have.
There is always an environment of competition between US and China as China happens to be
the second largest economy of the world right after US. China has been developing significant
and continuous strategies clout in the global platform (Davis, 2015). Hence, it can be said that
the shared history between all three countries right from the times of World War have created a
diplomatic environment for the United States of America to have better national interests with
Russia than China.
Thesis Statement:
Why Russia is more important to the USA’s national interests than China?
Crucial National Interests
Despite of variations in the appoint of Prime Ministership in both Russia and China, it could be
observed that US has always tried to maintain balanced relationship with Russia and a
competitive relationship which is much bound by alert with China. It can also be observed that
after the appointment of Vladimir Putin as the Prime Minister of Russia, the rhetoric seems to be
tougher (Farese, 2017). However, the politicians routinely in both the countries have been

FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE US INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 4
invoking the notion of crucial national interests for the justification of the any required action
course with United States (Ferdinand, 2016). However, the crucial national interests are in the
terms of the conditions which are very strict and necessary at the same time in order to enhance
and safeguard the well-being and survival of the United States in a very secured and free nation.
The crucial national interests of the United States with Russia are more resonating in terms of
prevention of slowing and use of the spread of the nuclear and other major weapons associated to
the mass destruction, securing materials and weapons of mass destruction along with the
proliferation of the long range as well as intermediate delivery systems for the weapons. Such
national interests cannot be expected from a country like China by the United States (Bremmer,
2014). The national interest of US are much directed towards cooperation with Russia in regards
to maintain a balance within the power in Asia and Europe in order to promote stability and
peace through a continuing role of leadership of US (Frieden, 2015).
The national interested of US with Russia also relates to the prevention of sustained or large
scale terrorist attacks in the homeland of America. Further¸ enhancing ties with Russia have
improved the ensuring of security of energy along with assuring the stability of the economy at
the international economy (Guzzini, 2013).
Neutral Relations between US and Russia
Considering power of the countries, having a difficult history with Russia which has been
troubling most of the times, in spite of having comparatively small economy, the role of Russia
in the international business had reduced after the disintegration of Soviet Union. Yet, US have
neutral relations with Russia, in fact US has always looked forward to Russia as a partner on the
international scale (Tsygankov, 2016). United States has been given more priorities to Russia
than China due to the fact that it has profound impact on the crucial national interest sofa the
United States. These aspects are very much relevant through the currents of bilateral alliances
regarding various vital concerns of the globe.
Regarding nuclear weapons, there have been instances regarding the identification of nuclear
terrorism by both President Barack Obama and former President George W. bush as the prime
threat to the national security (Heitor, 2015). Russia and United States have 95 percent of the
nuclear weapons of the world and the most usable materials for weapons in the world. Both the

FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE US INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 5
superpowers happen to be major suppliers of nuclear technologies which can be used in the civil
wars all around the globe. Russia has the power to destroy United States within half an hour.
Hence, it is critical for United States to have meaningful support and assistance from Russia in
order to prevent nuclear war (Hill, Smith & Vanhoonacker, 2017). While on other hand, the
relationship between US and China has been becoming increasingly interdependent and complex
which has been leading to struggles in establishment of common foundation for the depending
and expansion of the bilateral relations.
On one end, both the countries appear to agree on the overall need for having agreement to
manage and cooperate in competition in regards, the information regarding how to handle take
the relationship forward still remains unclear specifically in areas where the development has
been very complex to obtain. It is a fact that the global challenges that are faced by the world are
very much centered on the conflict of China and United States (Hocking & Spence, 2016).
United States have been having conflicting relations and issues with China in regards to
maritime, nuclear, cyber, and space domains which are highly consequential and have large
scale implications on all the countries as a whole. The fact that the relationship between US and
China has been stronger but it comes with various sources if disagreements and tensions.
The issues in North Korea and Taiwan along with the territorial disputes still exist between
China and various allies of China. The presentation of such conflicts comes up in political and
security flashes. US consider China as not so important regarding national interest as compared
to Russia. China has very solid grounds regarding missile technology and various other materials
that are very sensitive to the concern of the security for United States (Kahler, et al., 2016).
China is also becoming huge energy player in the areas of the Middle East countries. Moreover,
the growing presence of China in the region of Caribbean and Latin America through the
expansion of economy and relations associated with trade countries in the Western hemisphere
may result in further diplomatic relations with Taiwan which would be of complicated
economic and political implications for the United States of America (McElroy, 2014).
In the areas of non-proliferation, Russia has a great role in the international efforts led by the
United States for the exhibition of nuclear weapons, technology and usable materials for the
weapons that are not only searched by the states of the nation but also by the players which are
not associated with the state. Russia is considered to be more important and convenient to build

FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE US INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 6
better relationship with as this country has been playing a major role in supporting the initiatives
of America for devising shared intelligence and nuclear terrorism on Al Qaeda with the capital of
United States. It is a fact tat without the assistance of Russia; US would face wide scaled
difficulties in searching the ways to minimize the rate of nuclear proliferation for the prevention
of nuclear terrorism (Pursiainen, 2017). Moreover, the scope of the power of America in the
Asian continent is through its operations of strategic interest which primarily revolves around the
countries like Russia and India mostly other than china with which establishing concrete bilateral
ties is still not assured.
The United States does not have operations that are unabated. This country has witnessed its own
strategies to be disrupted in the history by both the countries China and Russia. However, US
have utilized its wide influence in both the economic and security issues with more involvement
of Russia (Sargent, 2014). The Northern Distribution Network has been the key interest for the
supply and logistic efforts of United States in Afghanistan which is heightened by the direct
conflict with the economic expansion of China.
This directly reflects the scope of powers of America which has the desire and ability for
containing the rising global power. The relations with Russia are stronger with the operations in
Afghanistan and the production of opium which has wide scaled implications on the
demographic crisis of Russia. Establishing cooperation with the super power like China has
been more complicated and problematic with the exception of the concerns regarding security
which have the potential to cause disruptions to the resources flow.
Three Reasons
Related to Peace
Regarding peace, the plans of US have been well integrated in the region of Central Asia by the
effective use of the air and land space of Russia for the Northern Distribution Network along
with the shared interest in the security deployed in Afghanistan. It is for the purpose of
restricting the trade and purpose of opium. On the other hand, China has no shared interests that
are tangible with the United States in the Eastern continent. In this case, China also does not
have any concerns regarding security for its resources as it is very well equipped in defending its
interest (Vitalis, 2015). The cooperation within the organization in the region seems to be very

FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE US INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 7
good option for the increase of stability, however, the choices is very limited for United States.
The instance has to be taken into consideration that the membership of US into the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization in the year 2005 was rejected when the former company tried to join.
In one way it seems as if any kind of trade organization would be suitable to the requirements of
being a platforms of the involvement if United States, they have been proved to be the catalyst
for ulterior motives which have been dominating such propositions (Weiss, 2014). Hence,
considering China to be in the bets interest of the nation cannot be a preferred objective. The
influence of America thorough institutions may prove to be reliant force on the mutual interest of
Russia than that of China and the degree of creativity with huge role of diplomacy is required for
the aspects to get established.
Aspects Of Prosperity
Regarding the aspects of Prosperity in regards to, the concerns of US in the eastern region of
Asia have been more strategic with Chain and comparatively less with Russia. Mostly the
strategic concerns were regarding the increasing for the countries’ resources to enhance the
expansion in the economy. The trade with Russia is very much is very much existent. The report
by the National intelligence Council suggested that the economy of Chain would become the
highest by the year 2030. This would counter and become a paramount issue in for United States.
On the other hand, the evaluation of Chinese trade in the Asia, most strategic investments is in
the transportation and extraction of the mineral resources (Vitalis, 2015). United States of
America is very well equipped in a much better way than China to foster the growth of trade
through the “grass roots” style that is developed by the organization like US Agency for
International Development. The cooperation between Russia and US on development initiatives
regarding infrastructure and trade aimed at achieving a bilateral cooperation through the custom
unions that are led by the Central Asia and Russia which would appear to provide the greatest
opportunities and scope of the growth of US sustainably.
Aspects Of Principle
From the aspects of principle, in regards to the democracy and human rights of Russia and China
have very little participation in the role of United States though the trilateral and bilateral
agreements would need mutual agreement ate a very high level regarding the development the
rights of the workers in the context of developmental projects would be very much required for
the support of United States and the interest of the Americans is mostly thought to be deterred

FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE US INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 8
by Chin as compared to Russia as Chain lack s the least sense of semblance regarding
democracy. The lack of human right and democracy concerns are very much evident and the
republic receives very low amount of benefits from the economy from the Northern Distribution
Network. It has been also observed that Chain has been falling short regarding the provision of
ideal conditions in both the categories and if the integration in the region is to continue with the
assistance of the United States then the efforts of the country will require to be devised regarding
so kind of reforms. This has to determine the extent of involvement of the United States with
Russia.
When it comes to the question that whether United States be able to work with Russia, the
argument arise regarding the possibility of prevention of the domestic and foreign government
conduct from cooperating in an effective way with the United States. Many members have been
working in significant association with Russia for over twenty years; have very painful
experience and awareness s regarding the difficulty of the actions and policy of Russia. America
can very well have engagements with the Russia as compared to Chain in many ways that assist
in the development of the national values and interests of United States (Weiss, 2014). United
States needs to invest in best efforts in the countries which can provide better alliances.
However, in the countries where the efforts put in by US have been rebuffed, America needs to
act in order to achieve and obtain what it possibly can and continuously engage in obtaining
further development. Inspire of having diverse interest, Russia and United States have better
scope of diverging substantial outcomes (Kahler, et al., 2016).
Conclusion
The values of both the countries have the scope of getting amalgamated in comparison to the
values of Chain which differ very significantly. Russia and the United States of America happen
to share many interest that are common which also include the interest which are vital such as
spreading of the nuclear weapons, promotion of a very reliable energy system in the global
scale, combating of the global terrorism together along with sustaining a very prosperous global
economy. It is an obvious fact that the priorities, interests and the perspectives of both the
countries will differ in many aspects. However, the difference in such aspects will be less than
that which would arise between United States and China. It has also to be considered that there
will be considerable flaws in the ways in which Russia works which should not prevent United

FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE US INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS 9
States to have compromise in its interests and building associations with the former country. It is
another fact that United States of America does not have any other option to be considered other
than working with undemocratic countries when its national interests are supposed to be at
stake. Russia will be of much better help due to its previous instances of having alliances
regarding trade and security as compared to China.
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