Much has been discussed about the future of U.S. Grand Strategy after the collapse of the USSR, but the truth is everyone in the U.S. Administration believed that not only they must not abondone a Successful Strategy but they must polish it, adjust it inorder to fit the new world environment. Hence, I personally believe that inspite of War on Terrorism, Global Warming, etc which became the new features of U.S. Grand Strategy, Containment as an umbrella Strategy is still relevent.
It is easy to realize that U.S. is still following the same policies of Containment but with a proactive and progressive approach. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, there was optimism among the officials in washington that they have not only defeated their enemy but there is a chance of democratizing that enemy and forging a friendly relations which will boost the international security and will become the corner stone of world peace. However, their optimism did not last long before they witnessed a New Russia emerging in the ashes of Soviet Union with a very similar outlook towards the West and world politics. Russian Nationalism which became very intense during the 1992-95 realized that unlike Germans who renounced Nazism and created a new identity for themselves, Russians can very openly embrace the achievements of the Soviet Union inorder to create a superior Russian National Identity.
So, what does Russian Nationalism have anything to do with the U.S. Grand Strategy? well, the Russian Behaviour which considers itself as Soviet Successsor will definitely affect how the U.S. deals with it. It became apparant soon after the anouncement of independence by Soviet Republics that Russia is trying to influence the political transformations in those countries through its sympathizers which almost all of them were Old Communist Officials related to Moscow. The reason for such a policy is very clear and does not need any explanation, Russia considers these republics as its sphere of influence, necessary for its National Security and Power, Vast energy fields will boost the Russian economy, politics and will raise its status in international politics. So, Russia is ready to pay any price in order to keep these countries under its influence.
Nato expansion which aimed at admitting the Newly Independent Soviet Republics, Democratizing their Governments, providing economic and military assistances, arming them with Missile Defense System was and is all and all part of the same policies under the U.S. Grand Strategy of Containment aimed at Soviet Union and now the Russian Federation. Scholars around the world have largely argued that if these aggressive policies against Russia is dropped, then we will soon be witnessing the Reemergence of the Soviet Union under the Russian Leadership. It may not be the same Soviet Union, with the same ideology or geography, but it maybe a much more dangerous threat to the U.S. and European Interests.
It is obvious that U.S. realized this threat long ago and have been prepared for it and have done anything it could to not allow such a thing happen. Europe too realizes that, while they witnessed the Reemegence of the Nazi Germany, they know it will not be very difficult for Russians to claim back their sphere of influence and enjoy the overwhelming power and influence which can come with having the independent Soviet Republics on its side.
Lets see what Russians have been doing to forge their forces together and claim their superamacy and influence over the independent Soviet Republics. I mentioned that they have been very active in shaping political institutions and a leadership in those countries that are loyal to Moscow, they have created the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) which beside some Central Asian Countries it is a forum where China, India, Iran, Pakistan are its members and Afghanistan is planning to join it as well. Russian military presence in Kyrgyzstan and in other central asian countries where in some counries it is official and in some it has unofficial presence, some even believe that the russian pressur was the sole reason behind uzbekistan's decision of evicting the U.S. military base from that country. Russian attack of Georgia in 2008 which came in the aftermath of that country's decision to join Nato and allow Missile Defense System to be stationed in its territory are obviouse examples of what these countries mean for Russia.
Today, as usual i am checking the BBC for the News and here it is to my surprize Putin calling for a "Euroasian Union" of ex-soviet Republics http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15172519 well, i thought there is nothing to be surprized about, everyone including myself expected that Russian Federation will finally make a move that will expose their underlying intentions and Strategy to the common man and world public opinion. And here we have it, the statement comes from the most powerful Russian Politician and most probably the next (Future) Russian President. Let him declare that his proposition is not aimed at re-creating the Soviet Union but we know that he will not be unhappy to make that dream come true.
To conclude, we can find thousands of such examples where the U.S. and Russian Relationship or better say the Russian position in U.S. Grand Strategy has remained the same as the Cold War Containment but an advanced version of it, which means here we are not dealing with a threat but a possible threat! Hence, we can boldly state that the idea of U.S. not having a Grand Strategy is False, and that United States has not abondoned its Strategy of Containment, but has developed, improved and expanded it in such a shape inorder to not only tackle the Possible Russian Problem but encompass other global issues and threats which affects its National Interests and Security in 21st Century.
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