Russia Relations in the Obama Period: Reflections of Reset Policy

Abstract

The main theme of the article is the reset policy by which USA put forward her relations with Russia during the Obama era, and which constitutes a process of rapprochement in bilateral relations. In addition, the research question discussed in the article, to what extent has the reset strategy succeeded in USA-Russia relations? The reset strategy, which revealed a process of convergence in military, political and economic issues in bilateral relations, also played an important role in Russia's process of becoming a rising power. In this context, serious steps have been taken on issues such as disarmament, Iran's nuclear program, missile defense systems and cooperation in the fight against terrorism. The USA and Russia, which took joint measures against countries such as Afghanistan and North Korea, turned to a global cooperation process. However, Putin's return to the presidency in 2012 marked the beginning of the end of the zero policy. Particularly in the South Caucasus, the Middle East and Ukraine, a period of great disagreement with the USA has been entered. The annexation of Crimea in 2014 was the last spark that caused the USA to abandon the reset policy to a large extent.