Author: Charu Sudan Kasturi, Erin Hale
Published on: 14/03/2025 | 00:00:00
AI Summary:
Donald Trump is attempting a subtle geopolitical manoeuvre: By pulling Russia closer to the US, he is trying to wean it away from China, Washington’s biggest long-term rival. Experts point out that the US president has also sent feelers to China in a bid to improve ties. Trump’s recent outreach to Putin has gone “far beyond” peace talks, economists say. They cite Trump’s frequent use of Russian talking points on the war in Ukraine. Russia was a member of the grouping until its 2014 invasion of Crimea. Richard Luttwak argued that the White House bust-up with Zelenskyy and the push to get Ukraine to compromise in a bid to end the Russia war “was all done in the service of Trump’s larger and longer term ambition of neutralising China” Other facts, however, raise questions about the idea of a grand strategy underpinning Trump’s efforts to woo Putin, say several analysts. For Michael Clarke, a historian and strategic expert at Australia’s Deakin University who specialise in Nixon was never accused of personally gaining from a detente with Beijing. Given Putin’s status as a “persona non grata in the West”, Park said Republican senators might “not be entirely warm to the idea of cutting deals with Russia” Meanwhile, Trump’s approach to China isn’t very clear, either. Trump imposed fresh sanctions on Russia – as well as Iran and North Korea – under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) But it was the war in Ukraine that ended any prospects of a thaw. Since the war began in 2022, the US and its allies have imposed at least 21,692 sanctions against Russia. Putin has developed a “longstanding and visceral disdain and distrust of the United States”, says Clarke. “There is little, if any, reason to conclude that President Putin sees the second Trump administration’s foreign policy as the new US normal,” said Wyne spokesman. China resisted that pressure, refusing to condemn Russia while claiming neutrality. Russia and China have met more than 40 times since Xi came to power in 2012. But the Ukraine conflict has deepened Russia’s dependence on China. China, in turn, received sharply discounted oil and natural gas from Russia. China will be closely watching Trump’s attempts at a rapprochement with Putin. But on the whole, Trump’s posture on the war “could be seen as beneficial to Beijing” for two reasons, Clarke said. The US’s weakened conviction towards Ukraine’s defence will be seen by China. Trump’s mounting trade war with Europe and his reluctance to commit to alliances on the continent might push nations there to explore stronger ties with Beijing. China presents itself as the upholder of globalisation.
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Summary: 441 words
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