Foreign Policy

1
Foreign Policy Trade Policy Case Study -
Russian Trade after Georgia

• Presented by
• Dimitar Minchev

2
Beginning of the conflictShort overview of the
timeline

• August 8 Georgia launches an attack on South
  Ossetia
• August 9 Russian military begins to repel the
  Georgian assault in order to prevent genocide
• August 15 the US Secretary of State Condoleezza
  Rice arrives at Tbilisi
• September 5 US vice-president R. Cheney visits
  Georgia
• September 13 Russian forces begin to withdraw
  form Georgia

3
Events preceding the conflict

• In February 2008 Kosovo declared its independence
  with the support of the US and the EU
• US moved to install missiles to defend itself
  from rogue states
• Russia strongly opposed both events

4
Events preceding the conflict-cont.

• US withdrew its support for Russias bid to
  become a WTO member
• US pledged its support for Georgias and
  Ukraines bid for NATO membership
• US trained Georgian soldiers and supplied
  equipment for their mission in Iraq

5
US response to the Russian invasion in Georgia

• The US Secretary of state visited Georgia,
  pledging US support for the country
• The US vice-president visited Tbilisi and pledged
  1 billion dollars in aid for the recovery of the
  country
• US sent humanitarian aid aboard two navy ships
  and a coast guard frigate

6
US response to the Russian invasion in
Georgia-cont.

• NATO conducted 18 days exercises in the Black Sea
  during the conflict
• President Bush canceled the civilian nuclear deal
  with Russia

7
Russias response to the US actions

• August 26, 2008 - recognition of South Ossetia
  and Abkhazia, but only Nicaragua joins the
  recognition
• Igor Shechin Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman
  of state owned Rosneft gives a speech on the OPEC
  meeting in Vienna

8
Russias response to the US actions

• Russia bars 19 US poultry producers form
  exporting into the country
• Russia implements new stricter import measures at
  border checkpoints with Turkey
• Russia sent two strategic bombers TU-160 to
  Venezuela

9
Russias response to the US actions

• Russia announced that it will send a nuclear
  powered missile destroyer to the Caribbean Sea
  along with three navy ships on Military exercises
  with Venezuela
• Russia announced a 27 increase in its military
  spending for 2009

10
US national interests in Georgia

• US backs the 1 million barrels per day pipeline
  in Georgia which allows it to use oil from the
  Caspian Sea region while avoiding Russia or Iran
• Georgia had the third biggest contingent in Iraq
  prior to the start of the conflict and was active
  participant in the war on terror

11
What are the ways for the US to change its energy
policy

• Use more natural gas for transportation
• Its cheaper than oil
• It emits less greenhouse gases
• Its abundant in North America
• Invest in new energy technologies
• Electric car
• Hydrogen fuel cell

12
What are the ways for the US to change its energy
policy-cont.

• Provide tax rebates and cash incentives for
  homeowners to switch to alternative power
  generation
• Look to the long term future - ITER

13

• Thank you for your time!

14
Resources

• South Ossetia information about the region
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Ossetia
• Analysis Why the Russia Georgia conflict
  Matters to the West?
• http//www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe
  /article4486297.ece
• Polish government approves US missile deal
• http//www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-08-19-miss
  ile-deal_N.htm
• Russia Condemns US missile deal
• http//news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7573409.stmgoba
  ck
• Russia makes new threats over US-Poland missile
  deal
• http//abcnews.go.com/International/story?id56172
  71page1
• Opinion US, EU must take Russia seriously
• http//www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3580354,0
  0.html
• Russian chicken ban more bad news for US
  producers
• http//www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2008
  -08-28-chicken-russia_N.htm
• Russia-Georgia war ordeal for Turkeys economy
• http//www.turkishdailynews.com.tr/article.php?ene
  wsid112315
• Russia denies punishing Turkey over Georgia
• http//www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-09-02-Turk
  ey-Russia_N.htm
• Bush cancels civilian nuclear deal with Russia

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Resources cont.

• Russia says to send nuclear warship to the
  Caribbean
• http//www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSL871354
  420080908?pageNumber2virtualBrandChannel0
• Russia defense spending to grow 27 in 09 - Putin
• http//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080916/wl_nm/russia_d
  efence_dc
• Visiting Georgia Dick Cheney assails Russia
• http//www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-f
  g-georgia5-2008sep05,0,2485941.story
• Georgias oil pipeline is key to US support
• http//www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f/c/a/2
  008/08/09/MNDG127U55.DTL
• Georgia-Oil and Gas politics
• http//www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/georg
  ia/oil-politics.htm
• OPEC plans closer links with Russia to control
  half of the worlds oil supply
• http//business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/ind
  ustry_sectors/natural_resources/article4727088.ece
  
• Russia warns US and EU over Kosovo independence
• http//www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL2879
  99020080128
• Russia, US trade barbs over Iraq, Kosovo at UN
• http//www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N28360832
  .htm
• McCan and Obama use conflict in Georgia to prove
  foreign policy mettle
• http//www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/11/johnmc
  cain.barackobama