President Clinton is making an historic trip to Russia next month, the first presidential visit to Russia since May 1995. In light of recent questions evoked about the IMF and World Bank aid packages to Russia , Boris Yeltsin's cabinet reshuffling, and speculation surrounding President Yeltsin's failing health, Brookings seeks to investigate what lies ahead for President Clinton and, more generally, America's relationship with Russia. Key issues:
- Why is Clinton making this trip now?
- Is Russia administering effective control over the dismantlement of its nuclear arsenal, and what does this entail for the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and nuclear technology to "rogue" states?
- How will Clinton's recent trip to China and the Indian and Pakistani nuclear tests affect the meeting?
- What will the IMF and World Bank bailouts hold for future Russian economic reform?
- How can the U.S. play an effective role in helping Russia pursue reform measures and develop democrstic institutions?