Pointless Punishment

The United States and the European Union have stepped up sanctions on Russia for its intervention in Ukraine – and have urged Asian nations like China and Japan to do likewise. Yet the conflict continues. Asia and Europe have more to lose from sanctioning Russia than does the United States. “The majority of the Asia-Pacific governments – including U.S. allies Australia and South Korea – have little appetite for imposing harsh sanctions on Russia,” write Ely Ratner and Elizabeth Rosenberg for Foreign Affairs. “The fate of Ukraine simply doesn’t rank among their top priorities with Moscow.” All types of Asian manufacturers of energy equipment could struggle on contracts, in turn hurting regional economies. Russian support is needed on a number of global challenges including civil of war in Syria, North Korean aggression and Iran’s nuclear program. New tensions emerge over territorial disagreements with Japan, weakening the US ally while strengthening Russian-China ties. Ratner and Rosenberg conclude that Russian isolation, weakening US partners, runs counter to long-term US security interests. – YaleGlobal