US-Russia Relations: ‘It’s Not Me, It’s You’

For very obvious reasons, relations aren’t so great between the United States and Russia lately. But what’s interesting is that both sides prefer to blame the other side for causing the deterioration in relations, while keeping a door open for a friendship down the road if only the other side would get their act together.

Here’s U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, quoted by Reuters:

Carter, who will view components of that NATO force later on Monday, said the alliance would keep the door open to an improved relationship with Russia but said flatly: “It’s up to the Kremlin to decide.”

“We do not seek a cold, let alone a hot war with Russia. We do not seek to make Russia an enemy,” Carter said. “But make no mistake: we will defend our allies, the rules-based international order, and the positive future it affords us all.”

As you may have guessed, Russia sees it the other way around.