The year of 2009 has witnessed more dialogues and less confrontations among the United States, the European Union (EU) and Russia, as the three major powers seek to reduce tensions and promote cooperation.
However, it remains to be seen whether the good momentum in their ties could be carried into the next year as they are still deeply divided over some key world issues.
WARMING U.S.-RUSSIA TIES
Since U.S. President Barack Obama took office in January, the two Cold War era rivals have started a prudent adjustment of their relations.
The United States has to rely on Russia to fulfill its strategic objectives in Afghanistan, the Middle East, Iran and the Korean Peninsula
given Moscow's superb geopolitical influence and military prowess.
On Sept. 17, the Obama administration reversed course on planned deployment of a missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic, which had long been accused by Russia as a threat to its national security.
Shortly afterwards, Moscow announced suspension of its missile deployment in Kaliningrad Oblast on the Baltic coast. The two sides also carried out talks on a deal aimed at reducing their unclear arsenals.
Nevertheless, some of the most tricky issues remain untouched. Moscow has hoped to have a clearer vision on the new U.S. missile defense plan and they are still at odds over NATO's eastward expansion.
Analysts have pointed out that it's hard for the two to get over such snarls in their relations as none would back down on issues concerning their strategic interests.
COOPERATION AND COMPETITION BETWEEN U.S., EU
The U.S.-Europe relations have moved forward constantly in 2009 as both sides see more overlapping interests.
Relations between the two sides had soured during the George W. Bush administration amid differences over Iraq between the United States and some of the major EU nations led by France and Germany.
Obama intensified exchanges with Europe on many issues after he took office in January this year. The president actively engaged in a series of crucial talks with his European partners, including the London G20, NATO and Europe-U.S. summits.
During the NATO summit in April, Obama held a relaxed and town-hall style meeting with a French and German audience in Strasbourg, France.
He told the audience his plan to repair the damaged relations with Europe. "We must be honest with ourselves," he said, "In recent years, we've
allowed our alliance to drift."
He pledged the United States would work toward a "better partner," and called for joint efforts to find a way out of their common problems.
In the following EU-U.S. summit, all the bloc's member state leaders were present in a rare display of solidarity with their transatlantic ally. However, differences remain over Afghanistan and climate change. In December, Obama announced a decision to send more troops to Afghanistan, to which its European allies didn't show much enthusiasm.
On climate change, the EU has always criticized Washington's reluctance to face up to its historic responsibilities and dramatically cut its greenhouse gas emissions.
The Lisbon Treaty, which became effective on Dec. 1, has boosted the EU's profile and redoubled hopes for a more powerful bloc that is capable of speaking in one voice.
A stable and prosperous Europe conforms to the U.S. economic and political interests, but Washington, in the meantime, is yet to get ready
for an EU that is strong enough to threaten its dominance.
EU, RUSSIA COMPROMISE
There has been a traditional political and economic link between EU and Russia. French President Nicolas Sarkozy played a key role in mediating an end to Russia's armed conflict with Georgia in August last year.
Two summits were held between both sides in Khabarovsk, Russia in May and Stockholm, Sweden in November on their relations, financial crisis,
European energy security and global warming.
Both Russia and the EU recognized each other as important partner and many consensuses were reached during the talks. However, a candid and
unreserved cooperation is still illusive.
Countries in East and West Europe have long been divided over how to deal with the old-time big power, and Russia is also annoyed by EU's
eastward expansion and its so-called "Eastern Partnership" with the former Soviet republics of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.
Moscow is now seeking to set up a new European security architecture to challenge NATO's dominance in the region.
On Nov. 29, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev proposed a draft "European security treaty" to press his ideas for reforming the present European security structures based around NATO and the United States. But it was shrugged off by Western countries and international organizations.
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the best forum for discussing the problem was the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and "NATO will remain our framework for Euro-Atlantic security."
It is practically hard for Russia and the EU to drop their defensive against each other any time soon, and this will affect the long-term and
in-depth development of their relationship in the future, analysts say.