As a result of the leadership of Ronald Reagan, relations between the United States and Russia changed dramatically. At the end of the Cold War, tensions immediately deescalated. Hollywood stopped making movies with Russia as the bad guy. Russia was very friendly towards America. Much the same way that Japan was after they were defeated in World War II.

Ronald Reagan ended the Cold War much the same way that the United States ended World War II, by turning on the full manufacturing capacity of our country. Just as the Germans could not keep up with the manufacturing capabilities of the United States, so also the Soviet Union saw the economic demise of their country as a result of Reagan’s military manufacturing strategy.

ADVERTISEMENT

The working relationships between the United States and Russia after the Cold War did not last. Russia had tasted what it was like to be a world power and they did not like being the little brother to the United States. The United States feels what it is like to be the only real world power and they do not want share this power.

Little brothers will not always remain little. Sometimes little brothers grow up to be bigger. Russia is the little brother in that the United State’s GDP is 9 times larger than Russia. However, Russia has about half the population of the United States but twice as much real estate. Russia has the potential for real growth.

In 2009, Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonDemocratic groups using Bloomberg money to launch M in Spanish language ads in Florida The Hill's Campaign Report: Presidential polls tighten weeks out from Election Day More than 50 Latino faith leaders endorse Biden MORE proposed a “reset” button with Russia. Clinton was naive to think that she could simply erase 200+ years of relations. One does not reset relations like one resets a computer’s hard drive. While nations might forgive each other for past wrongs, it is completely impracticable that nations would forget overnight.

In 2012, Mitt Romney stated that Russia was the United States “number one geopolitical foe”. Romney was looking at Russia much like a person looks at their favorite football team. When it comes to football, there is one champion and everyone else is a loser. Romney’s statement did not take into account that nations can work together towards a common good. Romney was perpetrating the fraud that the only way for the United States to be safe is for it to remain the only world power.

Over the last several years, the relationship between the United States and Russia have gone through some growing pains. Russia has demonstrated that it has the ability to be a world power. Russia was able to march into Ukraine despite the United States implementing sanctions. They will not be the little brother for much longer.

Russia is the little brother that wants to be noticed. Russia’s involvement in the 2016 election is just a reminder that while Russia is big enough to be a nuisance. It will not be long before it will be a grown adult again. The question is that when Russia is full-grown, will it be bitter at us for treating it like a second-class country or will it be our ally because we nurtured it and helped it return to its rightful place in the world as a true Super Power?

What are the United States and Russia relations going to look like in 5, 10, or even 25 years? Are we going to be trading partners or are we going to be economic enemies? Are we going to be partners in policing the world from terrorists or are we going to be at each other’s throats trying to dominate world partnerships?

The United States may be able to win the immediate international battle with Russia by treating Russia as a little brother. However, such a policy will not be good long term. Russia has been a Constitutional Republic for the last 24 years. The United States has been a Constitutional Republic for 228 years. Maybe it is time that we stop treating Russia like an enemy and take the time to teach Russia how to be the best Constitutional Republic that it can be. Russia is not going to be perfect and they are not going to do everything the way we want them to do it. But then again, no little brother is perfect and they will never do everything the way we want them to do it.

Having a second global power gives the United States two distinct foreign policy choices. We can treat Russia like an enemy as we return to the Cold War. Alternatively, we can treat them like an adult and learn to work together through our differences.

Just because Russia is acting like an annoying little brother, it does not mean that big brother should stoop to little brother’s level. The United States is the big boy in the room and it is time that we start acting like it. We need to recognize Russia for who she is and who she will be in the future. We do not need to fear Russia tomorrow if we treat her with respect today.

Mark Meuser is a seasoned trial attorney and student of the framing of the United States. He also visited Russia twice after the fall of the Soviet Union. You can follow him at @MarkMeuser

The views expressed by authors are their own and not the views of The Hill.