WASHINGTON—Today, the U.S. Helsinki Commission staff published a new report entitled “Contesting Russia: Preparing for the Long-Term Russian Threat.” The report highlights the need for a durable and comprehensive strategy to contest Russia as it continues to act as an imperial power—threatening its neighbors, the United States, and the democratic world. Focusing on the OSCE region, the report analyzes both emerging challenges posed by Russia and opportunities for deeper U.S. engagement in Europe and Eurasia that foster prosperity and democracy and counter Russia’s authoritarian influence.
“Russia has emerged as one of the greatest threats to U.S. national security and prosperity in the world today. The free world’s approach of the previous thirty years – to bind Russia into the global economic system, make Russian oligarchs wealthy, and treat Russia as an equal – has decisively failed,” Chairman Wilson said. “Malign Russian influence must be countered anywhere and everywhere in order that Americans are kept safe, our alliances are kept strong, and the U.S.-led global order that has enabled an unprecedented level of human freedom and prosperity is kept intact.”
The Helsinki Commission staff report delves into Russia’s evolving tactics and continued provocations against their neighbors and the United States, while providing a roadmap for a long-term approach to twenty-first century Russian imperialism and authoritarianism. With chapters focusing on Russia, Ukraine, the Visegrad 4 and the Baltics, Central Asia, the Western Balkans, the Caucasus, Türkiye, the Black Sea, and the OSCE, the report lays out a blueprint for U.S. policy toward the European and Eurasian regions that centers around a realistic concept of Russia.
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