Trump left a heavy legacy
Biden's first meeting between US President and Vladimir Putin took place less than five months after taking office. After his inauguration, Trump, who spoke in favor of improving relations with Russia, took almost two years to attend a summit with a Russian leader in Helsinki. Valery Garbuzov, director of the US and Canadian Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, commented on the difference.
AP Photos:
– I think the main thing is in this “loop”, “says the expert. – Because the accusation against Trump, which was taken very seriously in America, blocked his steps at every turn. As soon as he said something good about Russia and Putin, a wave of criticism immediately began. But then Special Prosecutor Mueller's commission worked to summon all those involved and suspects to speak, the atmosphere apparently not contributing to the negotiations with who “put” you in the White House (as Trump's criticism convinced) Americans).
So imagine yourself: if, for example, Trump decided to meet Putin, he would be immediately controlled by all his enemies, who trumpeted in one voice that “this is a recommendation to the person who took part in his election.” destiny. “p>
All this, of course, hampered Trump in the Russian direction. This is, in fact, the main reason why Trump left so many bad things in his relations with Russia that no American president left them during the Cold War – and not all of them together! The same penalty fence that now surrounds us. Although, of course, there are reservations that the sanctions regime is not complete, that it restricts only businesses in certain industries, but these are key, very important sectors and we do not need these sanctions. Russia should develop, move forward and receive investment in all sectors of the economy whenever possible. And sanctions prevent that.
The era of trumpism is gone, Trump is now out of power, a new page has been opened – and that should be used. And build relationships by removing old rubble and shaping a new agenda.
American journalists scandal at Putin-Biden meeting: video
Watch video on topic
– Every American president traditionally embarks on a European tour after entering the White House – just like Biden now. This tour includes meetings with European allies of the United States, and Biden had to solve serious problems at these meetings, because Trump fought everyone and fell out with Western European allies. Biden's job, then, was to provide assurances that America played in its former role, that it knew how to speak to allies as equals, and not the way Trump spoke to them — benevolently, arrogantly, demanding all financial problems.
And in this format, Biden proposed a meeting with President Putin. It was an initiative of the American party – and I think it was right that the Russian president reacted to it. Every opportunity should be used to resume dialogue. Even after this highly known conversation with Biden, which exploded Russian-American relations so much that it even led to the dismissal of the Russian ambassador.
As for Xi Jinping, I think it's his turn. Speaking of two powers that are considered countries that have challenged the United States, experts and journalists are worried about who America is more afraid of – Russia or China? Biden, for example, said in one of his interviews that Russia was a major threat to the United States because it was trying to destroy a world order that existed before.
I must say that America has collided, perhaps because of the first time a challenge is coming from two strong poles – China and Russia. However, the content of these calls is different.
If we talk about China, of course, it is a competitor with which there are many contradictions, but it must be understood that the United States cannot live without it. Who will saturate the whole consumer market with goods? Today, China does 80 percent, America is not able to fulfill this mission alone. Who will provide the United States with such opportunities to locate its factories in order to take advantage of cheap labor close to sales markets? China. And who is one of the main creditors of the US federal government? Without China, the US federal government would not be able to implement all of its numerous social programs and military budgets.
Just as America and China are interconnected, no states are interconnected. It is no coincidence that there has been talk of a united US-Chinese economy. America cannot exist without China. Once upon a time, forty years ago, the United States participated in China's economic reforms, invested there – and China grew. And now this economic giant has begun to threaten his teacher.
The US government therefore faces the challenge of choosing a model for the model of American-Chinese interaction that includes both trade wars and competition. However, this should be seen as a mechanism for regulating confrontation and contradictions. Finally, you can create a model that combines attraction and rejection. And if there are no interventions that Trump has arranged – and I think no one but him can do what he has done – then relations between the United States and China can be leveled and kept afloat.
As for America's relations with Russia, we must think about them. The model has not yet been developed by either party or by joint efforts. And this should be a model based on concessions and compromise, if possible in the widest possible areas. Of course, there will remain areas where no compromise is possible. I think it needs to be in parentheses for now. The less they are discussed, the better the other problems are solved.
The Faces of Putin and Biden at the Geneva Meeting: Dramatic Shots
View related photo gallery