Condition and the ways of development of the USA and the Republic of Korea alliance at the present stage

This article examines the current state and ways of development of the alliance of the United States of America and the Republic of Korea after the Joseph Biden administration came to power. During the summit held in Washington on May 21, 2021, the key positions of the two countries on the formation of a joint policy in the future were announced. There were areas and regions that had not previously appeared on the joint foreign policy agenda, which means fundamental changes in the understanding of the alliance’s future. Consequently, the author of the article analyzes the reasons why the Moon Jae-in administration could change its course in foreign policy, Washington's goals for reforming the alliance and the changes that the alliance of the United States and South Korea will undergo.

US and Russia National Security Strategies – Possible Crossing Points

In her presentation, the speaker focuses on the national security documents published in the United States and Russia in 2021. The Interim strategic national security guidance, published just seven weeks after the Biden administration came to power, testifies to the intention of the current US leadership to distance itself from the legacy of Donald Trump. Major attention is paid to domestic politics and ideological components of the new administration's agenda. Continuity with the 2017 National Security Strategy remains in relation to the strategic competition with China, while less attention is devoted to Russia. In July 2021, an updated National Security Strategy of the Russian Federation was released. It reflects significant changes in the vision of Russia's role in global politics. Major focus is on the issues of information and environmental security. The speaker notes that the US and Russian strategic documents are subject to a general trend of expansion of the concept of national security to include the aspects of domestic security, as well as socio-economic and cultural aspects. In the foreign policy sphere, the strategies are mainly focused on the Asia-Pacific region.

Features of the development of the field of information and communication technologies in the United States of America in 2020–2021

The article describes the features of the development of the field of information and communication technologies in the century of digital transformation of society, the active implementation of innovative technological developments in economic and social processes, provides an analysis of the pace of development of the industry of information and communication technologies in the United States of America, describes the changes that have occurred associated with the global pandemic in 2020-2021.

Venezuelan Puzzle for Joe Biden

The article is devoted to the American-Venezuelan relations at the present stage. Their confusion is explained by the ongoing revision of US foreign policy under 46th President Joe Biden, the confrontation between Democrats and Republicans in Congress, and political and economic instability in the Bolivarian Republic. At the same time, an analysis of the main components of bilateral interaction can contribute to a better understanding of their features. Washington's pressure on Caracas takes place because of the domestic political reasons and the strategic objectives of the United States in the Western Hemisphere. In these conditions, the probability that the White House will continue the pressure on the government of Nicolas Maduro remains high enough.

Is There A Need in a New «Concert of Great Powers»? Discussions in the American Expert Community

The world political system is recently passing through a period of rapid changes. Decades of Western dominance are coming to an end, while strengthening China and Russia are eroding the weakening western leadership and its liberal values. In order to reduce tensions between the great powers and prevent possible confrontation, Richard N. Haas and Charles I. Kupchan propose to create a modern edition of the "European Concert" of the 19th century. Their opponents claim that the experience of the past is not always relevant in the present, and the "concert" system will not work in the modern circumstances. The article reveals the arguments of both sides.

Biden Administration's Arctic Policy Outlook

The goal of US Arctic policy today is to consolidate its status as an Arctic power. To that end, the Biden administration has reshuffled personnel and institutions, stepped up the fight against climate change, initiated infrastructure projects in Alaska, and emphasised multilateral cooperation, including through NATO and the Arctic Council. The White House is not interested in excessive confrontation with Russia in the region and recognises the need for clear 'rules of the game' in the Arctic.

The current trajectory of Brazil-USA cooperation

The article reviews the evolution of international relations of Brazil and the USA in the XXI century. The unprecedented rapprochement is taking place while persisting contradictions prevent from bringing the level of the interaction to a fundamentally new height. The similarity in positions of the states’ leaders ensures development of the political dialogue. At the same time, disagreements in the field of economic issues and current environmental agenda in their turn influence mutual cooperation.

NATO Eastern Flank: Continuity and New Accents in the U.S. Policies in Eastern Europe under the Biden Administration

Specific traits of the U.S. policies in Eastern Europe in the first months of the Joe Biden presidency are pre-determined primarily by the Democrats’ desire to normalize the U.S. relationship with the major Western European allies and the EU as a whole, spoiled under Donald Trump. This task makes it necessary to abandon artificial opposing of Eastern Europe to Western Europe. The Biden administration attaches major importance to the issue of common liberal values, which creates certain problems in relations with some East European governments, like Hungary or Poland. Political and diplomatic steps of the new administration in the region, both in a bilateral format and through multilateral forums (in particular the Three Seas Initiative), have revealed, on the one hand, the U.S. desire to keep protecting the security of the region in the face of the Russian and, increasingly Chinese, challenge; on the other hand, lower priority attached to "energy wars" with Russia, gradual waiving of sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project, as well as Biden's unwillingness to sacrifice relations with Germany and other Western European allies for the sake of specific interests of countries like Poland, which were conceived by the Trump administration as a counterweight to Western Europe.

Modern Transatlantic Relations: Key Challenges for US and Russian Interests

In his presentation, the speaker focuses on the problems in relations between the United States and its European NATO allies. Firstly, he talks about the withdrawal of the US troops from Afghanistan, that Sergey M. Rogov considers the first serious defeat of the Western countries since the foundation of NATO. At the same time, he notes the significant military and economic contribution of the U.S. allies to the operation in Afghanistan, and the fact that the US did not take into account the opinion of its allies as well as the issues that may await European countries and the alliance as a whole in this regard. Second, the speaker notes the huge difference in military spending and military capabilities between the United States and the European allies, and concludes that NATO countries will continue to be militarily dependent on the United States. In nuclear sphere, despite the approval of the START III extension by the Biden administration, European countries did not actively resist the collapse of the INF Treaty and the U.S. withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty. The forthcoming deployment of American missiles in Poland and the Baltic states will further exacerbate of the NATO-Russia crisis. J. Biden's support for the sole purpose concept, which to certain extent implies no first use of nuclear weapons, jeopardizes the U.S. security obligations towards its European allies. Fourth, there is the problem of "new" NATO members, which make minimal contribution to common security, but require economic support and protection from possible Russian aggression. In conclusion, the problem of the U.S.-China confrontation is considered, where the US is actively seeking to involve European countries.