Articles by Ariel Cohen

 

Russia, PNTR, and Human Rights

Ariel Cohen | June 13, 2012

Progress on the ability of U.S. firms to take advantage of new business opportunities when Russia joins the World Trade Organization (WTO) took a step… Read More

 

The Magnitsky Act: The Moment of Truth

Ariel Cohen | June 05, 2012

?his Thursday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee will put the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act up for a vote. The bill seeks “to… Read More

 

From Lenin’s Birthplace to NATO’s Logistical Hub

Ariel Cohen | June 04, 2012

The recent NATO summit in Chicago failed to produce a U.S.–Pakistan transit agreement. The agreement sought would have allowed U.S. forces and the International Security… Read More

 

Putin and Obama Won’t Visit Each Other Any More

Ariel Cohen | May 17, 2012

Russian President Vladimir Putin has cited the need to complete the formation of new cabinet ministers to excuse himself from attending the G-8 summit at… Read More

 

Putin Celebrates Inauguration Amidst Protests

Ariel Cohen | May 08, 2012

On the eve of his third inauguration, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with U.S. National Security Advisor Tom Donilon for two hours to “compare notes”… Read More

 

Russia’s Blackmail Shows Why U.S. and Allies Need Missile Defenses

Ariel Cohen | May 04, 2012

During a recent missile defense conference in Moscow, Russian Chief of General Staff Nikolai Makarov stated, “A decision to use destructive force pre-emptively will be… Read More

 

Russia’s Gunboat Diplomacy: Russian Warships to Patrol Syria’s Coast?

Ariel Cohen | April 16, 2012

On April 13, the Russian RIA Novosti news agency quoted a high-ranking source in the Russian defense ministry as saying, “A decision was made to… Read More

 

Senate to Prevent Rosoboronexport Helicopter Sales to Afghanistan?

Ariel Cohen | March 20, 2012

Recently, 17 Senators expressed a concern over U.S. government trade ties to Rosoboronexport, a leading Russian arms exporter that supplies weapons to the defiant Bashar… Read More

 

Meet Pastor Gauck, the Anti-communist German President

Ariel Cohen | March 19, 2012

Germany has elected its 11th president: Joachim Gauck (72), a Lutheran pastor and internationally renowned human rights activist. The position of President of the Federal… Read More

Security

Iran’s Menace in Azerbaijan

Ariel Cohen | March 16, 2012

Not even a month after Azerbaijani counterintelligence services arrested Iranian agents planning terrorist attacks against Israeli diplomats and prominent members of the Jewish community, a… Read More

SecurityNews

Global U.S.–Russian Rivalry Fuels Syria Clash in the U.N.

Ariel Cohen | March 13, 2012

On Monday, Washington and Moscow clashed yet again in the U.N. Security Council over what to do about the bloody conflict in Syria. Neither side… Read More

 

Iran’s Clandestine Operations Threaten Azerbaijan

Ariel Cohen | February 23, 2012

On February 21, Azerbaijani counterintelligence services arrested Iranian agents planning terrorist attacks against Israeli diplomats and prominent members of the Jewish community. This is the… Read More

 

Time for a Georgia-U.S. Free Trade Agreement

Ariel Cohen | February 06, 2012

President Obama and President of the Republic of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili recently announced that the two countries should start free-trade negotiations. Let’s hope both presidents… Read More

 

“Reset” Backfires as Clinton Fails to Reach Foreign Minister Lavrov

Ariel Cohen | February 02, 2012

On Tuesday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wanted to reach her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, to discuss the upcoming U.N. Security Council… Read More

Security

Russia Backs Assad to the Bitter End

Ariel Cohen | January 31, 2012

In a rare admission of reality, a senior Russia Middle East hand, Duma Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Mikhail Margelov, acknowledged that Russia has “exhausted its… Read More

 

Washington Should Reject ‘No Missiles, No Meeting’ Russian Blackmail

Ariel Cohen | January 27, 2012

Recently, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that there may be no summit between NATO and the Russian Federation if no agreement on missile… Read More

Security

Turkey and Iran: Bad Timing for Trade Increase

Ariel Cohen | January 23, 2012

Last Thursday, Iran and Turkey signed an agreement aimed at increasing trade between the two countries and doubling bilateral business by 2015. The agreement was… Read More

 

Ambassador McFaul Runs into Putin’s TV Buzz Saw

Ariel Cohen | January 20, 2012

Russian state television has launched an all-out assault on the new U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul—undeservedly so, although not unexpected. Russia’s Channel One, run by All-Russia… Read More

Energy

Strait of Hormuz: U.S. Should Be Ready for the Next Oil Crisis

Ariel Cohen | January 20, 2012

Tensions are rising in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has recently yet again threatened to close the strategic strait down over the threats from the… Read More

 

Reversing U.S. Retreat from the Arctic

Ariel Cohen | December 02, 2011

As the Arctic ice cap is decreasing in size, the international race for Arctic resources is heating up. The High North countries—including Russia, Denmark, Norway,… Read More

Security

U.S.–Russia: A Stress Test over Afghanistan

Ariel Cohen | December 02, 2011

Russia is trying to exploit U.S. vulnerability in Afghanistan by squeezing concessions on European missile defense. This is a disturbing development, potentially threatening security of… Read More

 

Will Russia Bog Down in Syria?

Ariel Cohen | November 30, 2011

In an unfortunate exercise of naval muscle-flexing, a flotilla of Russian warships will be sent to the anchorage and naval base of Tartus in Syria… Read More

 

Will Russian Missile Defense Hysteria Torpedo the ‘Reset’?

Ariel Cohen | November 29, 2011

Last week, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced that Russia would deploy short-range missiles and possibly withdraw from the New Strategic Arms Reductions Treaty (New START)… Read More

 

Dinner with Putin: And What About Russia’s Foreign Policy?

Ariel Cohen | November 23, 2011

Last Friday, this author had the opportunity to dine in the company of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, his senior staff, and the attendees of… Read More

 

Putin Is Back “Seriously and for a While”

Ariel Cohen | November 18, 2011

Last Friday, this author had the opportunity to dine in the company of Vladimir Putin, his senior staff, and the attendees of the annual Valdai… Read More

 

Putin to Coordinate Oil Production with OPEC?

Ariel Cohen | November 18, 2011

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced that his country, the world’s leading oil and gas producer, plans to work closely with the Organization of Petroleum… Read More

 

Is Russia Becoming Iran’s Diplomatic Godfather?

Ariel Cohen | November 02, 2011

Moscow has shown yet again that it is determined to protect Iran’s controversial nuclear program. Russia and China have asked Yukiya Amano, the International Atomic… Read More

Security

Russia’s African Expansion Boosted by New BRICS Stock Market

Ariel Cohen | October 24, 2011

Russia is bemoaning the passing of Libyan dictator Muammar Qadhafi, an old friend and client of the Soviet Union and a reliable customer for Russian… Read More

Security

Kudrin’s Dismissal Projects Future Instability in Russia

Ariel Cohen | September 28, 2011

On Monday, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev forced Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin to resign. Medvedev’s harsh treatment of Kudrin was a response to the statement Kudrin… Read More

 

What Putin’s Return to the Presidency Means

Ariel Cohen | September 27, 2011

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s return to power means stability—and stagnation—for Russians and a tough counterpart for both America and Russia’s neighbors. Putin’s nomination to… Read More