Michael McFaul, architect of Obama's detente with Russia, given position to show US intent on enhancing ties with Kremlin
Michael McFaul, the architect of the Obama administration's policy of "resetting" US-Russian relations, will be the new American ambassador in Moscow.
The appointment of Barack Obama's chief adviser to a post normally filled by a diplomat is intended as a message to the Kremlin about the importance Washington puts on improving an often testy relationship.
McFaul has been a constant White House advocate of the need to pay close attention to Moscow's views to reduce friction in the UN security council and achieve further progress in arms control.
One of the diplomatic high points of the Obama administration so far, the new Start treaty with Russia on limiting long-range nuclear missiles, which entered into force in February, was largely a result of the White House's decision to "reset" bilateral relations,after years of poor relations. McFaul was one of the policy's leading proponents.
"It is our intention to build a multidimensional relationship with Russia, not simply one about arms control," McFaul said after a meeting on Friday between Obama and the Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev, during the G8 summit in Deauville in France. "The two presidents have pledged to that and particularly on economic relations, to try to expand the scope of things we do together."
McFaul's priorities in his new job will be to negotiate Russian membership of the World Trade Organisation, maintain US supply routes to Afghanistan through Russia, and work towards a deal on missile defence.
The Bush administration's plans to set up a system of radars and missile interceptors in eastern Europe was the main source of tension in US-Russian relations. The US said it was a defence against a future Iranian missile threat, while Moscow saw it as an American bid to undermine the Russian nuclear deterrent.
The Obama administration has opted for a more gradual, "phased adaptive" approach, but it has only served to postpone a confrontation with Russia until the system reaches its later phases in the next seven years.
The Russian chief of the army general staff, General Nikolai Makarov, said on Friday: "I am certain that this moment will be the start of a new stage in the arms race that no one wants, particularly in the current economic climate."
William Perry, a former US defence secretary, said that back-channel talks he was chairing between US and Russian had been making progress.
"It is plain that the experts on both sides believe it is possible to build a system in which the two countries exchange data. Their radar system are better located and we have better radars. Both sides can benefit," he said.
Moscow however wanted control over the eastern sector of Nato's missile defence systems and a written pledge that the system will never be used against Russia.
Perry thought neither proposal was acceptable to the US. "I think if we try to make it a treaty, we are not going to get anywhere," he said.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/29/us-appoints-moscow-ambassador
Japan Darren Bent Credit crunch Sheffield United London Stoke City
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