What has already changed and what will change in the relations between the United States and Russia with the Obama presidency? According to many commentators, the “preventive war” against regimes deemed problematic, initiated by the Bush administration in the name of the supreme mission of exporting democracy, did not yield the expected results. In fact, whether justifiably or not, the U.S. found itself in difficulties even with many allied countries. Obama is tasked with reversing this course and repositioning the country in the globalized world as a superpower capable of managing emergencies with a renewed ability to engage all actors on the scene, including Russia. This is particularly important as Putin seems intent on restoring Moscow's historically significant role as a major player.
