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I notice that Senator Clinton stumbled several times over the name of Dmitry Medvedev, who will almost certainly win Russia’s Presidential election on Sunday.  “Whatever,” she said, after several unsuccessful attempts.

My immediate reaction was “well, at least it’s not anywhere important.”

A few seconds later, I regretted the thought, but after some deliberation it seems pretty clear to me that the episode illustrated how totally insignificant Russia has become in US politics.  In terms of the governments that will prove the most relevant to US policy-makers, it’s probably not in the top 10 (or 15, maybe*).  Countries like India, Nigeria and perennial democratic friends probably affect American objectives more and, furthermore, those states will almost certainly prove more amenable to US interests.

(*Which 15 would I list above Russia?)

1. Canada
2. Mexico
3. Britain
4. Israel
5. Japan
6. Germany
7. China (the first seven have pretty obvious economic and strategic significance to the US)
8. Pakistan (considerably more important in the global war on terror and, probably, nuclear proliferation)
9. India (far more relevant to the emerging balance of power in East Asia than Russia)
10. Cuba (relevant because of the potential of an immigration crisis)
11. South Korea
12. France?
13. Italy?
14. Nigeria
15. Saudi Arabia
16. Iraq
17. Afghanistan
18. Poland?

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