Title: Etched in Stone: Russian Strategic Culture and the Future of Transatlantic Security
By: Eugene Rumer and Richard Sokolsky and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Abstract: A discussion on Russian strategic culture normally consists of three parts: (1) its history of wars, (2) Russia’s expansive geography, and (3) the Russian elite or security establishment. Our partners at Carnegie Endowment have taken these three elements and added more building blocks, reflecting on the role of technology (particularly with weapons systems); the collapse of the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) and Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaties; and NATO’s pivot from a Cold War mindset to a 360 degree approach to security. The paper culminates with a view on strategic stability and a potential, informal approach for both Russia and the U.S. to manage their strategic nuclear relationship in the face of a strategic mindset that is unlikely to see any radical changes in the near term.