CNA Talks: A National Security Podcast Retrospective on Russia Studies with Dmitry Gorenburg
7 snips
Apr 23, 2025 AI Snips
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Early Russia Studies Focused on Partnership
- Early 2000s Russia studies at CNA focused on partnership with the Russian Navy and were quite small, with Dmitry as the sole specialist for many years.
- The program involved naval officers exchanging visits and mutual tours to build relationships.
Crimea Annexation Shifted Perspectives
- The 2014 annexation of Crimea led to an immediate 180-degree shift in how the Defense Department viewed Russia from partner to adversary.
- This strategic pivot brought a sudden increase in funding and attention to Russia studies at CNA.
Building the Team with Mike Kaufman
- Dmitry recruited Mike Kaufman initially as a part-time helper for a study, who later became a core team member and prominent expert.
- This marked the beginning of building a sustainable Russia Studies program at CNA.