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Michael McFaul Profile picture
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30 Jul, 4 tweets, 1 min read
During the Cold War, some US leaders praised our autocratic allies & friends as "strong leaders" and labeled Soviet allies as brutal dictators ...THREAD 1/
They sold "constructive engagement" as a policy to democratize apartheid South Africa & celebrated Savimbi in Angola and the mujahadeen in Afghanistan as "freedom fighters." 2/
In our new era of great power competition with China (& Russia), we should learn from our successes during the Cold War, but also learn from our mistakes. 3/
For more details, read my "Cold War Lessons and Fallacies for US-China Relations Today" in @TWQgw here: tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.10…

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More from @McFaul

Michael McFaul Profile picture
23 Jun
"AFTER GENEVA
Biden is right to test whether Putin might embrace a more stable, predictable relationship with the United States. " THREAD 1/
"Should the Russian president opt instead to continue invading countries, mounting hacking and disinformation campaigns, and arresting innocent Russians and Americans, it will be clear that he, not Biden, is responsible for confrontation with the United States." 2/
Biden is also right to try to work with the Kremlin on a limited agenda of mutual interest, particularly on arms control. Even during tense moments of the Cold War, U.S. presidents saw the wisdom in cooperating with their Soviet counterparts to reduce the risk of nuclear war. 3/
Read 5 tweets
Michael McFaul Profile picture
23 Jun
"Biden must provide a counterweight to Putin’s promotion of autocracy." THREAD 1/
"He should continue to speak publicly in support of all those fighting for democracy across the region, from Alexei Navalny in Russia to Svetlana Tikhanovskaya in Belarus to the hundreds of lesser-known political prisoners in both countries." 2/
"His administration should also make it easier for students from Russia and elsewhere in the region to study in the United States; for high-skilled workers to immigrate to the United States; and for political leaders to seek asylum, if necessary." 3/
Read 9 tweets
Michael McFaul Profile picture
16 Jun
"AFTER GENEVA: Biden is right to test whether Putin might embrace a more stable, predictable relationship with the United States." THREAD 1/
Should the Russian president opt instead to continue invading countries, mounting hacking and disinformation campaigns, and arresting innocent Russians and Americans, it will be clear that he, not Biden, is responsible for confrontation with the United States. 3/
Biden is also right to try to work with the Kremlin on a limited agenda of mutual interest, particularly on arms control. Even during tense moments of the Cold War, U.S. presidents saw the wisdom in cooperating with their Soviet counterparts to reduce the risk of nuclear war. 4/
Read 5 tweets
Michael McFaul Profile picture
16 Jun
I have some thoughts on this line up and the smaller meeting. THREAD 1/
First, that Lavrov is in the small meeting and not Ushakov is interesting. In the past, Ushakov was always there. Also not standard protocol for the Secretary of State to be the +1, but Blinken has a special relationship with Biden.
Second, striking that General Gerasimov is there. That is highly unusual. His US counterpart is not. That signals to me that strategic stability talks are at top of agenda. And don’t forget, Antonov was chief negotiator of New START treaty.
Read 12 tweets
Michael McFaul Profile picture
15 Jun
I saw the planned schedule of events for tomorrow's Biden-Putin meeting in Geneva tomorrow. 3 details stood out, all good news for Biden. THREAD 1/
First, Putin will arrive first. Biden second. Putin has a habit of showing up late for meetings (He made Obama wait 40 minutes in Los Cabos in 2012.) If Putin is late tomorrow, Biden won't be standing around awkwardly waiting. 2/
Second, there will be no joint press conference. Good. Biden does not need to give Putin a global stage to propagate disinformation or play whataboutism. Let him do that on his own with the Russian press. 3/
Read 5 tweets
Michael McFaul Profile picture
15 Jun
"Biden is right to test whether Putin might embrace a more stable, predictable relationship with the United States." THREAD 1/
Should the Russian president opt instead to continue invading countries, mounting hacking and disinformation campaigns, and arresting innocent Russians and Americans, it will be clear that he, not Biden, is responsible for confrontation with the United States. 2/
Biden is also right to try to work with the Kremlin on a limited agenda of mutual interest, particularly on arms control. Even during tense moments of the Cold War, U.S. presidents saw the wisdom in cooperating with their Soviet counterparts to reduce the risk of nuclear war. 3/
Read 5 tweets

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