Washington, D.C. — This week’s stunning revelation that Russian hackers interfered with the U.S. election possibly on behalf of Donald Trump is one of many signs pointing to a resurgence of Vladimir Putin’s Russia as a major adversary of the United States. Among the most pronounced instances are Russia’s military actions in Syria and Ukraine, as well as its cyber and information warfare efforts against the United States and its allies.
The Center for American Progress has released a report looking at these three Russian flashpoints—Syria, Ukraine, and hacking and disinformation—and offering recommendations for the United States’ attempt to engage and challenge Russia.
“For Vladimir Putin to achieve his goal of a return to Cold War-era power politics, he needs the United States as an adversary,” said Bill Danvers, CAP Senior Fellow and author of the report. “The attack on the U.S. election is the most obvious example of that. Russian actions in Syria and Ukraine require U.S. engagement, and combined with the response to the Russian hacking, will form the basis for how this relationship is defined in the short term. The United States must find clear ways to engage Russia but also strongly challenge its efforts to undermine the U.S. and others in an attempt to acquire power.”
The report offers specific steps that the incoming administration should take to respond to these areas:
- Syria: Limiting, at least initially, immediate goals to dealing with the humanitarian crisis
- Ukraine: Implementing the Minsk II agreement, which lays out a road map for ending the fighting in the eastern portion of the country
- Russian hacking and disinformation: Working with Congress, allies, and the private sector to develop a unified response to Russia’s disinformation campaign and ongoing cyberattack
Click here to read the report.
For more information on this topic or to speak with an expert, contact Tom Caiazza at [email protected] or 202.481.7141.