Current Events and U.S. Diplomacy - Essay Example

This resulted to massive inflation rates, unemployment, corruption, and a breakdown of social order. When it came to international diplomacy, Russia remained in the sidelines. The Kosovo War was widely condemned by Russia since Serbia was a historical ally of the Russian people. There was more tension when Russia got embroiled in the Chechnya War, which the United States vehemently opposed. As well known throughout history, sharp disagreements between the two-superpower nations, United States and Russia, have always been around.

Each of these great nations has their own perspective on how to deal with international relations and their own internal affairs. When Vladimir Putin came to power in Russia, it raised some concerns among the United States government officials since Putin was a former KGB officer and was completely virtually unknown during his predecessor’s regime. Kanet (2009) pointed this out: Since former President Boris Yeltsin’s selection of Vladimir Putin as his successor, Russia’s fortunes have improved dramatically.

In part, this resulted from good luck and the escalating demand for and price of petroleum and natural gas on the world market; in part, it stems from President Putin’s successful reimposition of central control over the political and economic structures across the vast area of the Russian Federation, regardless of the cost in terms of human rights and democracy. Russia’s resurgence as a major power during the past decade has brought with it a reaffirmation of assertiveness in its relations with other states—both those within its stated sphere of influence and those further from Russian territory. (p.4) The rise of the Russian economy after Yeltsin, and during Putin’s time has raised suspicion from the United States since the Russian economy is being used as a political advantage when it comes to international policy making with other countries.

This results to Russia having a more influential