NEWSLINK: Russia’s view on the US elections: Mitt Romney’s description of Russia as America’s “No. 1 geopolitical foe” arrived during a period of increasing anti-American rhetoric in Russian politics
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(Russia’s view on the US elections: Mitt Romney’s description of Russia as America’s “No 1 geopolitical foe” arrived during a period of increasing anti-American rhetoric in Russian politics – The Guardian (UK) – Miriam Elder and Howard Amos – November 6, 2012 – http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/05/russia-view-us-elections)
The Guardian covers the U.S. presidential from the vantage point of U.S.-Russian relations, noting that Russia actually was already ratcheting up anti-American rhetoric before Republican nominee Mitt Romney observed Russia to be a leading geopolitical rival:
With anti-Americanism creeping back to the forefront of political rhetoric in Moscow, many in Russia slyly smiled when Romney this year called Russia “our No 1 geopolitical foe”.
Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, said the remark showed Romney was “open and sincere”. He added: “That Romney considers us enemy No 1 and apparently has bad feelings about Russia is a minus, but, considering that he expresses himself bluntly, openly and clearly, [this] means he is an open and sincere man, which is a plus
“We will be oriented toward pluses, not minuses. And I am actually very grateful to him for formulating his position in a straightforward manner.”
The statement harked back to Soviet times, when Russia’s leaders preferred dealing with Republicans who were seen as straight-talking, if tough to Democrats, seen here as masking their anti-Russian stance behind talk of human and civil rights, viewed with suspicion inside Russia.
Even after the expulsion of USAID, Barack Obama does not seem to necessarily be focusing on Russia with intensity, while Romney might be smoothing his stance
Reportedly some average Russians might not be as attuned to the tenor of the campaign as it relates to Russia.
The notion of “reset” might have been temporary from the Russian perspective as it is, and the Russian focus might be more on practical economic and security considerations:
Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said as much in an interview published this week: “If we talk about the ‘reset’, it is clear that, using computer terminology, it cannot last forever. Otherwise it would not be a ‘reset’ but a program failure”.
Among Russia’s chief concerns are energy policy Putin’s ability to govern rests on a high oil price, analysts say and US plans for missile defence in Europe, which it opposes but both candidates support.
(click here for full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/nov/05/russia-view-us-elections)