Analytics

End of the year provides a great opportunity to look back, draw lessons from the past and think about the future. With 2016 came a lot of anxiety together with positive expectations. Two major events are to be pointed out. Russia’s obtaining the status of a great power on the global arena was the first significant fact and the most important political dominant for the country. The second global event was the US presidential elections and Donald Trump’s becoming president of the United States with his promise «to make America great again». Thus the two countries, which are thought to have been ideological opponents and rivals for global leadership throughout the second half of the 20^th century, declared the idea of regaining their former greatness.

Many people in Russia are inclined to perceive any mass anti-government protests as the next «color revolution». USA and their allies did make a lot to form such a perception of the world. But the wave of mass protests in South-Eastern Europe in 2013-2015 revealed that technologies of «color revolutions» can be used not only by external forces, but also by local opposition for attaining its own goals.

The European Union, in contrast to Russia, Canada, USA, Norway and Greenland (Danish territory outside the EU) does not have the Arctic Ocean coast line, but is invariably connected to the Arctic geographically, historically and economically, considering itself responsible for the destiny of the region. In recent years the EU policy in the Arctic has been expanding and deepening, and resulted in the Integrated EU policy for the Arctic, presented by the European Commission on April 27, 2016.

Presented by EU Commission on June 7, 2016, the initiative of «new partnership» with African states and neighboring countries provoked controversial reaction of European public. The main problem of the «ambitious plan» is its realization. Will Commission succeed in attracting finances of member-states and private investors for achievement of the goals set or will the EU have to cut the development policy budget to stop the migration inflows to Europe?

After nearly a decade of the UK's sharp criticism of Russia's policy, there are finally signs that the British government may be willing to engage with Russia once again.

Britain’s decision to modernize its nuclear forces is likely to provoke international debate on nuclear non-proliferation and the role of the British nuclear deterrent within NATO.

The Brexit referendum asked the British to give a simple answer to a complex question. Unfortunately, the results of the referendum will not be so simple to sort out, and for Russia, too.

The author analyzes relations within the triangle – Russia, the EU, and the US and provides an overview of basic research on the contemporary world order and the positions of Europe and Russia. The author elaborates on five types of relationships, which are possible within this triangle.