Russia Will Continue Setting the Agenda

As Donald Trump prepares to take office, one of his earliest—and most important— foreign policy decisions will be how to move forward with the United States’ bilateral relationship with Russia. Will he pursue something along the lines of Obama’s reset or take a firmer stance? Given the president-elect’s opaque statements on the matter, The Cipher Brief spoke to CNA research scientist and Woodrow Wilson Center fellow Michael Kofman to examine how the incoming administration can employ a cohesive, long-lasting strategy for Russia.

The Cipher Brief: As the dust settles around the revelations of the level of Russian involvement in the DNC hacks and the Obama administration’s announcement of further sanctions on Russia, the incoming Trump administration will inherit a bilateral relationship at its lowest point since the Cold War. How will the new Administration set the tone for the U.S.-Russia relationship?