“Toxic Relations”: Asymmetric Interdependence of Russia and Western Countries in the Nuclear Energy Sector

Today international relations are marked by the strengthening positions of major world powers and growing military-political and economic disputes. Despite exacerbating tensions, the level of interdependence in different interstate interaction domains remains high. Relations arising from interdependence are not always equal and are characterised by asymmetry. Using or preventing the use of relative advantages in a particular field of interstate relations is an effective non-military way of increasing political influence of states. The author argues that the US and EU attempts to prevent Russia from harnessing its relative advantages in the nuclear energy sector so that they could increase their own political influence results in escalating interstate rivalry and further conflicts.