The American-Russian relationship has been a central theme in American international policy since the fall of the Third Reich, with the focus being on containment and the prevention of a Soviet hegemon. The containment policy of the United States has caused tention between these two powerhouses, and lead to complicated situations around the world, but nowhere so obvious as the Middle East. But the day could be in front of us where American-Russian politics align.

Understanding Russian culture as well as Putin’s background from the KGB to his extreme pride for his Nation will aid in seeing how a positive U.S.-Russian relationship can form. Putin has not only said, but has shown himself willing to work alongside a Trump presidency. A man like Putin will look to gain advantage for his Nation at all times. When he senses weakness on the part of his international counterparts, he will seize the opportunity, and will look to take advantage of anyone he deems his intellectual inferior. With that being said, strength is among the top traits in the old Soviet Union, and respect for individuals of strength is a classic example of Russian culture.

Throughout most of American history, the United States embraced a isolationist agenda, preferring to let other nations control their own spheres of influence, while the U.S. would dominate the western hemisphere through the Monroe Doctrine. The Monroe Doctrine was less of a formal policy embraced by the United States, and more of a mindset that the leaders of the United States would simply follow, a unwritten code as it were.

This isolationist mentality would enable the United States to focus on building it’s power, it economy, and focusing on how to build its nation to power. America was able to consolidate power in its hemisphere, and would go on to become the modern world’s first hegemon. A hegemon is a state that has reached a level of power so far above the other states within it’s sphere of influence that they cannot compete and pose no threat.

Currently the United States of America is comprised of 50 states, as well as sixteen territories. The United States has held a large number of territories, more than just the current sixteen, but for one reason or another these are no longer protectorate’s of the US.

The past several years has seen a sharp decline in the United States influence around the globe, whether it be in the form of lost territories, or in 2013 when then Secretary of State declared the era of the Monroe doctrine over, a doctrine that allowed America to control it’s sphere of influence without concern of foreign interference, and so become a powerful actor on the world stage.

Further evidence of the decrease of America’s global influence, aside from the amount of terrorist attacks carried out abroad, as well as within the American heartland, in October of this year, Philippines’ President Rodrigo Duterte declared his “separation” from the United States, and moves to align himself with China. The Philippines are a chain of islands, and former US territory, now moving to align with one of the US’ few competitors for power.

There has been a lot of major concern about what the implications of brexit are, from primarily an economic standpoint but as well from a security aspect.

The European Union, the organization that the U.K. voted to move from through a process called brexit, was founded shortly after World War II, it began with opening up greater trade for more economic growth. There are currently twenty eight countries that make up the EU, nearly the entire continent.

The U.K. is one of the most powerful nations within the E.U. both in terms of military strength, as well as economic terms. With the vote by the U.K. to leave the European Union this can potentially have a major impact on the influential power of the E.U. Going back to the crisis in Crimea during 2014, the E.U. placed sanctions on Russia, The sanctions placed by the coalition of Western states has had an impact on the Russian economy. But just how much power does the U.K. carry when compared to the other states of the E.U.?

As of April 2016, United Kingdom is ranked number five in the world for GDP(http://statisticstimes.com/economy/countries-by-projected-gdp.php), and is placed at number six for military power (https://knoema.com/infographics/wxzygqd/global-firepower-2016-data-and-charts). Only Germany and France can compare to the potential power of the U.K. of all nations within the E.U. as such it is easily surmised why many did not want the U.K. to leave the Union.