Russian President Vladimir Putin, in one of his latest addresses at the Valdai Forum in Sochi, congratulated former U.S. President Donald Trump, who he described as “courageous” and open to a potential future conversation. This was said after the news that Trump emerged victorious. Putin had acknowledged the news and sent a message, however, congratulating Trump on the win. Asked if he was prepared to hold talks with Trump, Putin responded with a curt “Ready,” stressing his preparedness to meet the former president in person.
The words of Putin seemed to underpin a certain degree of respect and even deference towards Trump. “I take this opportunity to wish him congratulations,” said Putin, which would represent a considerable diplomatic outreach, especially against the backdrop of often contentious ties between the two nations.
The interesting thing was before the U.S. elections, Putin had expressed a desire to see Joe Biden, or even Kamala Harris, in the White House. This may have been because he believed a Biden administration would be more predictable or potentially cooperative in certain areas of diplomacy. Notwithstanding that, the anti-establishment style featured in Donald Trump is also exactly that around which Moscow covets a more unconventionally U.S. role in the world. Uncertainty and division, features of much of the moves made under Trump’s tenure, present opportunities for Moscow to exploit.
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Amid the tumult, there has been some furor over Russian support for Trump. During the 2016 election, Moscow was accused of interference in ways that allegedly benefited the campaign of then-candidate Donald Trump over that of Hillary Clinton. This interference has been widely debated, with evidence found by U.S. intelligence agencies to support the claims, though Russia has always denied any involvement.
In yet another amazing twist of events, Putin was found to have delivered his ruling on Trump’s near-miss in a rally where an assassination attempt was allegedly carried out. The Russian leader seemed to be visibly impressed at how Trump handled the entire affair. He commended the man’s bravery under duress. “He showed himself to be an extraordinarily brave man,” declared Putin, who felt that only extraordinary situations could truly reveal the real character of a human being. And he demonstrated himself, in my opinion, in a quite correct manner, courageously. As a man, ” Putin continued. Such harsh words of praise by Putin may say some kind of personal appreciation for the strength of Trump, or maybe even in a subtle way to show respect for the kind of leadership he admires-one that is aggressive.
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How this connection might play out in U.S.-Russia relations from here, however, is much to consider. A complex dynamic has been held between Putin and Trump. They have traded in criticism and praise through time, but there is a sort of similarity between the two visionaries who talked of a powerful, nationalistic approach to leadership. That shared perspective could, at least in theory, open up a much more open and ready dialogue between their countries, easing the tension by a bit. However, this is a tenuous expectation considering all the deeply entrenched issues such as NATO’s presence in Eastern Europe, cyber tensions, and economic sanctions.
From an overall point of view, Putin may see Trump as a man who could be a welcome shift in the U.S. foreign policy perhaps focusing on home problems for the U.S. and, therefore, less interfering in Russian interests abroad. But whether this may translate to actual progress for U.S.-Russia relations is left unknown. A relationship built on personal respect can only take one so far in the realms of diplomacy, where national interests and security concerns most often come before personal rapport.
Personally, I feel that while this nod of approval by Putin on courage regarding Trump will most certainly boost their rapport, this may not automatically translate into an easy road for U.S.-Russia relations. Diplomatic relations require more than mutual respect between leaders; they need in-depth, strategic planning on both sides. In case Trump returns to power, a better understanding of Russia’s intentions and policies would be in much demand. Any move to the effect of calming down would need to put real effort into finding answers to long-standing geopolitical issues.
Minutes by M31GlobalNews
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