EDITORIAL: Russia seeks allies closer to the U.S. mainland borders

The presidential election and the economic crisis have been so dominant in the news recently that we have almost missed a development not too far from our doorsteps. 

Last month Russia sent two long-range bombers to Venezuela. At the same time,  Russia announced an agreement with Venezuela to send several Russian naval ships and about 1,000 Russian military personelle to participate in a joint naval training exercise in the Caribbean Sea this November. This action will undoubtedly  worsen the current U.S.-Russian relationship. This announcement came right after Russia's protest against the deployment of NATO and US warships in the Black Sea as a result of the war in the Caucasus, a move that, as Vladimir Putin put it, "would not go unanswered”. A spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry stated: "The temporary deployment of Russian navy anti-sub aircrafts at an air field in that country [Venezuela] is also planned."  We are assured by the same spokesman that this training exercise is not a reaction to the tension between the United States and Russia. But it is obvious that Venezuela's Hugo Chavez considers this military drill to be Russian support for his country against the United States. Venezuela is currently doing everything to increase its contacts with Russia. It also has become one of the major customers of Russian weapons.

Russia fears the US strategy to set up footholds so close to its borders. Not only are there  NATO and US warships currently in the Black Sea, which caused a strong protest from Russia, but the United States has disregarded any objection by Russia to the construction of a US missile defense system just 150 miles from the Russian border. Moscow also fears any NATO expansion to their neighboring countries. It is in this context that Russia is seeking out allies geographically close to the United States.


The current administration not only will leave behind two wars and a host of economic and social problems, but the U.S. will be stuck with what some have called the beginning of a ”second Cold War." The relations between Russia and the United States should not entera danger zone.  We have to revise our policy toward Russia in order to prevent a combustible situation. Russia as well as the United States must seek for an honest and frank relationship.

There is no question that these recent confrontations between the United States and Russia are stressful and do not contribute to the stability and security in this world.