U.S. Vote Could Derail Russia Ties

By PETER BAKER
NYT

WASHINGTON — The Republican election victory last week was fueled by opposition to President Obama’s economic and domestic initiatives, but it could undo his central foreign policy achievement, his new partnership with Russia, and embolden anti-American hawks in Moscow.

In forging a friendlier relationship with the Kremlin after years of tension, Mr. Obama needs Congress to sign off on three major policy changes: an arms control treaty to reduce nuclear arsenals and resume inspections; a civilian nuclear agreement to permit greater cooperation; and a repeal of cold war-era trade restrictions so Russia can join the World Trade Organization.

Persuading Congress to approve any of those was already daunting when Democrats had control of both houses, but with Republicans taking over the House and bolstering forces in the Senate, all of these initiatives appear in jeopardy. If Mr. Obama cannot deliver on his promises, American officials and foreign policy specialists fear it will rupture the so-called reset policy and validate Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin and other hard-liners who have been skeptical of the rapprochement.

In the days since the election, Russian officials have already threatened to shelve the New Start arms control treaty. Mr. Obama has decided to make a concerted push to persuade the departing Senate to approve the treaty in a lame-duck session this month. The president brought it up last week, along with extending middle-class tax cuts, as his biggest priorities for the session.

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