Bush's Diplomatic Mission to Europe: A Complicated Web of Interests

Strategic Insights -

President Bush's trip to Europe has been touted as a simple celebration of the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, but in reality, it is a carefully choreographed diplomatic mission designed to demonstrate U.S. concern about Russia's retreat from democratic principles while signaling support for U.S. allies in the region. The trip is a delicate balancing act, as Bush seeks to walk the fine line between appeasing his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, while also reassuring allies in the former Soviet Union. The stakes are high, as the U.S. and Russia have a complex and intertwined relationship, with both nations needing each other's help on various fronts.

Key Takeaways:

  • The trip includes stops in Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, and Georgia, all of which were subsumed into the Soviet Union at the end of World War II.
  • The leaders of Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania have publicly disputed Putin's contention that the collapse of the Soviet Union was a "major geopolitical disaster."
  • President Bush will visit the Freedom Monument in Latvia, speak in Freedom Square in Georgia, and hold roundtable discussions with human rights and democracy activists in each country.
  • The trip is meant to demonstrate U.S. support for independence and sovereignty in the former Soviet republics, while also pushing back against Russia's attempts to exert influence over its smaller neighbors.
  • The relationship between the U.S. and Russia is complicated, with both nations needing each other's help on various fronts, including oil, counter-terrorism, and nuclear proliferation.
  • Russian President Putin has proposed measures to consolidate power, including eliminating direct elections and empowering himself to appoint regional governors.
  • Human Rights Watch has accused the Russian government of eliminating independent broadcast media, and Putin has come under fire for hosting Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, Europe's last dictator.

Statistics:

  • Estimated 27 million Russian lives lost during World War II
  • 35% of the Soviet Union's population was lost during the war (Source: Radek Sikorski, American Enterprise Institute)
  • U.S. oil imports from Russia accounted for 8.7% of total U.S. oil imports in 2005 (Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration)
  • Russia has 4% of the world's oil reserves, but holds 16.5% of the world's natural gas reserves (Source: World Bank)
  • Ukraine is home to 45% of Europe's population and 20% of the continent's oil and gas reserves (Source: Fiona Hill, Brookings Institution)

Sources:

  • Washington Post, "Bush's Trip to Europe is More than Just a Celebration," Oren Dorell
  • Radek Sikorski, American Enterprise Institute
  • U.S. Energy Information Administration
  • World Bank
  • Fiona Hill, Brookings Institution
  • Human Rights Watch