Possible Russian Outreach to the United States

There are reports coming from the Russian press (although subsequently denied by Defence Ministry) that Russia has decided to postpone their plans to deploy nuclear-capable missiles in Kaliningrad, according to the Guardian.

 Analysts today said if confirmed the Russian move - which follows a phone conversation this week between Obama and Russia's president Dmitry Medvedev - could open the way for renewed dialogue on other issues that divide the two countries . . . Today's Russian move can be interpreted as a Kremlin olive branch to the new US team and a tactic to put pressure on Obama to scrap the shield.  "These plans have been suspended because the new US administration is not pushing ahead with the plans to deploy the US missile defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic," an official told the Russian state news agency, Interfax.

While the measures on both sides are temporary, it does raise the possibility for a thawing of relations between the two countries.  Given the looming negotiations over the extension (or modification) of START and a host of other issues important for the U.S.-Russia alliance, these type of confidence building measures could go a long way in providing benefits to the relationship.  In terms of missile defense itself, it will be interesting to see where the program come's out in the equation of Obama's formula to evaluate the effectiveness of programs and reduce costs.  It could be targeted as a way to save $12.7 billion but also represents a program that has an entire agency devoted to it and many who strongly support its role in helping deter and defend against potential attacks.