Michael Cabbage, Russia Launches First Component of International Space Station,
November 20, 1998, Orlando Sentinel
Daniel Oberhaus, Cold War Politics Shaped the International Space Station, August 25, 2020, Supercluster
In the 1990s, conceived in the aftermath of the Cold War’s end,
the International Space Station (ISS) is a multinational space station jointly created by the United States and Russia, along with thirteen other countries.
After the debate of the Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission over the ISS,
the United States and Russia resolved several deep-rooted issues,
including the prevention of nuclear proliferation, granting the United States lucrative oil pacts, and providing Russia’s economy access to much-needed funds. In addition, due to the station's astronomical budget, the ISS served
as an alternative in resolving diplomatic conflicts.
The diplomatic tug of war surrounding the ISS has been further complicated
by Chinese intervention in recent years. Russia has also presented
a withdrawal card as a way of maintaining their stake in the partnership
and challenging the United States dominance in space.
The United States has in turn, secured an efficient space industry
through private companies' advances into this area.
Despite this, the ISS has successfully created many opportunities
in helping the two countries remain largely cooperative.
ISS Logo, NASA
The Space Station International Participation, August 27, 2015,
Russian International Affairs Council