Obama’s Putin Snub Puts New Focus on Moscow’s China Ties

The leaders of the world’s largest economies meet in September, but the US president has cancelled a meeting with the Russian president, suggesting that little progress is developing from the relationship. The two leaders have a testy relationship, and the US decision came soon after Russia approved temporary asylum for Edward Snowden, a contract worker for the US National Security Agency who revealed a wide scope of US surveillance capabilities. “Yet one unintended consequence of such an approach could be to push Russia and China closer together in ways that will not be helpful to US interests,” reports the Financial Times. The US had hoped to work with Russia on ongoing reductions in stockpiles of nuclear weapons and stabilizing Syria. Meanwhile, China and Russia oppose external interventions in domestic affairs, resist US cultural influence and could pursue energy trade agreements. Russia’s G20 agenda includes growth through quality jobs and investment, trust and transparency, and effective regulation. G20 agendas require cooperation, and Obama can expect some chilly questions. – YaleGlobal