The Candidates on U.S. Policy toward Russia

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John McCain

Sen. McCain (R-AZ) has strongly criticized Putin, whom he has called "a dangerous person." In an October 2007 Republican debate, McCain expressed support for President Bush's plan to build a missile defense shield in Eastern Europe. "I don't care what [Putin's] objections are to it," he said.

In a November 2007 Foreign Affairs article, McCain called for a new approach to what he called a "revanchist" Russia. In that piece, he advocated Russian exclusion from the G-8, and said the West should send a message to Russia that NATO "is indivisible and that the organization's doors remain open to all democracies committed to the defense of freedom." He also said the United States should promote democracy in Russia.

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Ron Paul

Rep. Paul (R-TX) advocates a "strong national defense and a policy of non-intervention abroad" to ensure a Russia policy that "seeks our national interest."

In January 2007, Paul cosponsored a resolution to suspend the antidumping duty orders on imports of solid urea -- a substance used in fertilizers, plastics, and animal feed -- from Russia and Ukraine. That bill failed.

Paul was the only member of the House to vote against a 2007 resolution "noting the disturbing pattern of killings of numerous independent journalists in Russia since 2000, and urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to authorize cooperation with outside investigators in solving those murders."

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Mitt Romney

Romney advocates "a lot of cooperation" with Russia, as well as "frank and open discussions" about the state of democracy there. He also said in an April 2007 speech that the United States should work to secure "the vast amount of highly enriched nuclear material in their country."

Romney supports the planned National Missile Defense program of the Bush administration.

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Tom Tancredo

Rep. Tancredo's stance on Russia is unknown.

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Fred Thompson

Thompson is skeptical of the Russian government, which he has said is "apparently run by ex-KGB agents" (National Review Online).

"Oppose the Russian leadership, and you could trip and fall off a tall building or stumble into the path of a bullet," writes Thompson, whose studies focused on Russia, among other national security topics, at the American Enterprise Institute.

Thompson has not yet specified a plan for U.S. policy toward Russia.

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