Crisis in Russian-American Diplomacy

This article investigates the growing challenges in Russian-American diplomacy in the post-Soviet environment. To this end, the study focused on the crisis of Iraq and, more specifically, the US-British bombing of Iraq in 1998 as a source of tension in bilateral relations. In doing so, declassified communications between the US President Bill Clinton and Boris Yeltsin were reviewed following a discussion of American and Russian foreign policy towards the Iraqi crisis. The review of communications demonstrated that both leaders actively attempted to avoid further divergence by keeping friendly and consensus-building communications while insisting on their differing positions. The Yeltsin-Clinton correspondence also showed that they tried to avoid unilateral action and develop their strategies within international frameworks such as the UN Security Council (UNSC), the UN Special Commission (UNSCOM) and IAEA. In this regard, Bill Clinton ostensibly sided with UNSCOM, whereas Boris Yeltsin supported the UNSC framework where Russia could exert more influence. The study concluded that, despite these efforts, the US-British bombing of Iraq further alienated the Russian government and affected the post-Soviet world order. These conclusions are significant in that they demonstrate challenges to American diplomatic hegemony and show the earliest roots of divergence in Russian-American presidential diplomacy.