No longer enemies, U.S., Russia not yet best of friends

The dramatic warming in U.S-Russian relations could herald an era of pragmatism in global affairs as the two old rivals finally end decades of hostility and become friends.

While a new world order is not emerging, cooperation and common interests are more likely to resolve disputes among the major powers, analysts say. That should reduce tension and boost joint efforts on tackling common threats such as terrorism.

The emerging friendship between the United States and Russia, if it matures, could make them genuine partners for the first time. Moscow's support for the United States after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and moves by President Bush and President Vladimir Putin to chop nuclear arsenals mark a major turnaround.

"Washington and Moscow are no longer playing the 'big game' against each other, but with each other," said Karl-Heinz Kamp, an analyst at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, a German think tank.

Fewer ideologues

Both leaders are seen as practical men who share some fundamental attitudes about handling foreign affairs. This new brand of pragmatism, markedly different from the ideological divisions of the Cold War, is shared by a growing number of world leaders.

"We have very pragmatic leaders in George Bush and Putin. You have high degrees of pragmatism in Europe ... you are not talking about ideologues, you are not talking about conflicting strategic interests, you are talking about people used to finding pragmatic solutions," said Anthony Cordesman, an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.

All of this is in contrast to the friction that dogged U.S-Russian relations in the past decade. After the optimism that followed the 1991 Soviet collapse, Russia soon complained it was not being treated as an equal by Washington and became increasingly resentful.

Moscow fell back in to some Cold War habits, becoming an irritant in U.S. foreign policy and reviving Soviet-era ties with Iraq and other U.S. foes. An often belligerent Russia tried to sabotage Western diplomatic efforts in areas like the former Yugoslavia.

Signs before Sept. 11

But even before Sept. 11 and the Bush-Putin summit, there were signs that relations were improving and increasingly pragmatic.

Putin, an ex-KGB officer who watched the collapse of the Soviet system, has a clear vision of restoring Russia as a great power by making it part of an enlarged Western community. He wants to Westernize Russia's economy and many of its institutions to reverse decades of decline.

Bush is much more aware of the need for international cooperation and consultation since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, analysts say. The rest of the world hopes Washington will be less likely to go it alone on foreign issues and be more willing to accept alliances and treaties.

"If there is a change, it's in Bush. I don't think there's been that much change in Putin, frankly," said Ivo Daalder, an analyst at the Brookings Institution in Washington.