Politics and Governance

According to conventional wisdom, the United States and China are locked in a high-stakes competition for energy resources around the world, particularly in Africa. Against the backdrop of highly volatile oil prices, mounting concerns about global warming, and Europe’s dependence on Russian energy sources, the mere fact that both the United States and China have an intense interest in Africa leads to the conclusion that they are on a collision course there. This EWI policy paper by Angelica Austin, Danila Bochkarev and Willem van der Geest  argues that energy security can become a rallying point in an otherwise difficult relationship. Despite the visible tensions over China’s involvement in Sudan, China and the United States have far more energy interests in common in Africa than generally assumed. Already, they are cooperating on a number of initiatives, and there is no reason that their energy policies have to be at odds with each other. This is no zero-sum game.

It also recommends adopting a common policy on reduction of nuclear forces and combating nuclear proliferation. At their recent summit meeting, Presidents Bush and Putin agreed to cooperate on civil nuclear issues and the disposition of strategic nuclear forces. President Putin also noted that the two countries "...are now discussing a possibility of raising our relations to an entirely new level that would involve a very private and very...sensitive dialogue on all issues related to international security."

At their recent summit meeting, Presidents Bush and Putin worked to reverse the deterioration in bilateral relations by moving forward on civil nuclear cooperation and reviving a dialogue on the disposition of strategic nuclear forces. President Putin also noted that the two countries "...are now discussing a possibility of raising our relations to an entirely new level that would involve a very private and very...sensitive dialogue on all issues related to international security."

The approach is consistent with EWI's US-Russia Constructive Agenda Initiative and reflects the recommendations in our new policy paper, "New Russia, New Ally: A Bilateral Security Agenda Beyond 2008."  

Click here for the Russian version of the report.