Chandler Skolnick
16 March
Foreign Policy
Professor Shirk
This
Politico article by Michael Crowley focuses on the issues that Congress has risen
towards President Trump’s attempt to soften relations between the United States
and Russia. It begins by explaining that following the resignation of Retired
General Michael Flynn from the position of National Security Advisor, due to his
implications in diplomatic discussions prior to President Trump’s election,
Congress has urged Trump to take a colder stance toward President Putin and
Russia. It goes on to explain how President Trump has proven to hold an
unusually high opinion of President Putin, one that both Democratic and
Republican members of Congress appear to be extremely skeptical of. As a result
of the recent controversy regarding his relationship to Russia, President Trump
and his Administration have grown increasingly tough on Russian diplomatic
actions. The article mentions specific instances over the past month where
members of the Administration including U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and Defense
Secretary James Mathis, who both have publically condemned Russian foreign
affairs. It concludes by summarizing how Russian diplomats have begun to give
up on the possibility of easing tensions, seeing as the two administrations are
beginning to view compromising on several issues as unachievable.
The aspects
of this article that reflect those of the Russian chapter in the textbook
primarily focus around the relationship between presidents in recent years,
specifically between former Presidents Obama and Mendvedev. The textbook describes the many ways that the
two presidents were able to build relations, specifically through the START
treaty (Cox & Stokes 255). Despite this, the textbook concludes by
explaining that despite the advances that were made, the U.S. is still unable
to identify whether or not Russia can truly be a friend. Beyond the textbook,
in Obama’s second term, he was faced with a much more hostile relationship with
President Putin, one that did not appear to build relations between the two
nations. In Trump’s Presidency, although quite questionable, his relationship
with Putin and Russia showed a glimpse of better relations between the two
countries. Unfortunately, as the article presents, Congress is much more
nervous about Trump’s personal relationship with Putin, rather than mending the
tension between two global superpowers. As a result, Tensions between Russia
and the U.S. will remain high, and the two will be unable to reach meaningful
compromises for the foreseeable future.
Works Cited
Michael Cox and
Doug Stokes (2012). American Foreign Policy. 2nd ed. Oxford
University Press (Hereafter Cox and
Stokes)
I like how you analyzed recent current events and the resignation of some members of the Trump administration as a result of connections to Russia. I also liked how you analyzed recent relations with Russia, and how we still question the trustworthiness of Russia. Just wondering, if and when, how do you think US-Russia relations would be repaired to full? And if you feel they won't be repaired, why not?
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this post! Do you think it would be beneficial to mend and strengthen our relationship with Russia, or do you think we would be better off not allying with a country that we hold opposite values to?
ReplyDelete