[Comment] EU and US should co-operate with Russia | by Jim O’Brien and Alexander Yannis

As the United States re-thinks its role in the world under the guidance of President-elect Obama, the rest of the world determines the role they would like to occupy in the global order. The EU and Russia rise to the top of the list of global players and each has chosen to take on an evolving role leading up to the next administration. A united Europe has become a more confident and assertive actor in international relations, and a critical part of military efforts in Afghanistan. Russia has taken on it own summer-time military offensive, and in some respects has returned to a way of thinking more closely associated with the Cold War. The authors provide their analysis, focusing on how US – EU policy towards Russia may either advert or collide a conflict of interests.