WI/AHC: Russian-American Friendship

Nowadays, the most common enemy in fiction almost always "teh ev0l russians". And indeed, America and Russia haven't had a good relationship for a long while. But many generations ago, around the time of the American Civil War, the relationship between the two countries was pretty close (IMO). So, what would be required for a Russian-American alliance/relationship to emerge that is very similar to OTL's British-American partnership?
 
Nowadays, the most common enemy in fiction almost always "teh ev0l russians". And indeed, America and Russia haven't had a good relationship for a long while. But many generations ago, around the time of the American Civil War, the relationship between the two countries was pretty close (IMO). So, what would be required for a Russian-American alliance/relationship to emerge that is very similar to OTL's British-American partnership?

America supports the Whites more in the Russian Civil War, they win and become buddy buddy with the US?
 
America supports the Whites more in the Russian Civil War, they win and become buddy buddy with the US?

You can go earlier then that. I understand that the US and Russia were pretty buddy-buddy in the late 1800s. To make that last, I'd suggest you look at Alexander II. He was pretty liberal and it shouldn't be too hard to deal with his assassination. According to wikipedia he was killed by a second bomber after he got out of his bulletproof coach. Just have his security detail clear everyone nearby before he gets out.
 
But many generations ago, around the time of the American Civil War, the relationship between the two countries was pretty close (IMO).

It is a myth which the Americans have always believed in. The Russians were 'close' to the Americans during the ACW because of the likelihood of war breaking out over British and French opposition to their heavy handed policy in Poland. Neutral ports were needed for the Russian fleet to operate out of, and against British commerce, and thats why the Russians visited the Americans.
 

Free Lancer

Banned
It is a myth which the Americans have always believed in. The Russians were 'close' to the Americans during the ACW because of the likelihood of war breaking out over British and French opposition to their heavy handed policy in Poland. Neutral ports were needed for the Russian fleet to operate out of, and against British commerce, and thats why the Russians visited the Americans.

It was a friendship of convenience, basically I need you and you need me kind of thing but it was not all that and it had started long before the civil war.
 
Regardless of any misconceptions I may hold about the nature of early Russo-American relations, an alliance of convenience is still something to start from when the goal is to create a solid Russo-American alliance in the mold of OTL's British-American alliance*.

*Granted, that didn't really become fully formed until Post-WWII, IMO.
 
Well, when you look a foreign interests, Russia and the United States have had very little to fight about throughout their histories. On the other hand they both have had several conflicting interests with the British Empire.

So how about a surviving Alexander II seeks closer relations with the U.S. and the Great Rapprochement never gets off the ground. This would give the U.S. and Russia a mutual antagonist to cooperate against, hopping to use each-other in an alliance that should deter the British Empire.

Now, the special relationship is the kind of thing that can only be properly forged through the struggles of war, so you need to figure out a world war or two that this alliance comes out on top of.
 
Well, when you look a foreign interests, Russia and the United States have had very little to fight about throughout their histories. On the other hand they both have had several conflicting interests with the British Empire.

So how about a surviving Alexander II seeks closer relations with the U.S. and the Great Rapprochement never gets off the ground. This would give the U.S. and Russia a mutual antagonist to cooperate against, hopping to use each-other in an alliance that should deter the British Empire.

Now, the special relationship is the kind of thing that can only be properly forged through the struggles of war, so you need to figure out a world war or two that this alliance comes out on top of.

Well then you might get into issues about Russian North America. Would this be before or after the Alaska Purchase? Where else would Russia stand to gain directly at Britain's expense? They never quite made it to India, and even if Britain backs off denying the Russians Constantinople, they still have to go through the Ottomans and whatever allies they can rustle up. They didn't exactly need British approval to put down the Poles either. I guess the question is, without Russian America (which the real America will probably want), what does Russia have to gain from an alliance with the US against the British Empire?
 
So, what are some other ways to get a Russo-American alliance going? They don't really have direct borders, but throughout history they've been involved with some of the same countries, mainly France, China, and Africa. Maybe that could be a starting point?
 
Top