How Donald Trump Hopes to Outsmart Vladimir Putin
The 2016 election in the United States brought a historic change to the White House and the surrounding environment. Donald Trump’s win in the elections not only showcased an unconventional approach to politics, but also defied tough competition from the political establishment. Trump’s stance on foreign policy was perhaps the most contentious of his campaign speeches and raised many eyebrows.
His approach to Russia, particularly with regards to its president, Vladimir Putin, was one of the most scrutinized. This article will explain how Trump hopes to outsmart Putin while staying strong on American interests.
Democking the Russian Narrative
Trump’s outspokenness and frankness on foreign policy has been the source of quite a stir. His stance on President Putin has been a source of criticism and derision for many. It appears Trump has a plan to counter Russian propaganda. He has said several times that he hopes for a “good relationship” with Russia, which he believes can be achieved by leveraging the values of mutual respect and friendship. It is believed that by fostering a good relationship with Putin, Trump can achieve diplomacy without compromising US interests.
By “Democking the Russian narrative”, Trump wishes to shift away from the current trend of painting the Russian president in a negative light and instead concentrate on building a relationship based on respect, understanding, and knowledge.
Strategic sanctions
In stark opposition to much of the opinion where Trump is concerned, his approach on strategic sanctions differs. Trump has decided to not publicly comment directly on any sanctions imposed against Russia and instead focus on slowly doing away with those that have been enacted. He has also offered to use strategic sanctions so as to discourage Russian interference in other countries’ affairs and protect America from any type of cyber attack.
Trump argues that although sanctions are necessary to ensure American interests, they can also make negotiations much harder. Through strategic sanctions, Trump believes US interests can be protected while at the same time providing a better chance for talks that could guarantee a mutually beneficial agreement.
The Power of Silent Diplomacy
Unlike his predecessors, Trump has decided to take a different approach to foreign policy. Rather than holding press conferences and engaging in a direct dialogue with the press and media, he has decided to practice a form of silent diplomacy.
This is partly because Trump is not a conventional diplomat and partly because he believes that sometimes the only way to influence a situation is by remaining silent while allowing others to fill the void. This strategy is also believed to be effective when it comes to countering Russian disinformation campaigns and also bringing long-term peace and security.
Highlighting America’s Strengths
Trump hopes to counter any Russian disinformation or propaganda by continually highlighting America’s strengths. This includes consistently lauding the US economic strength, military might, and diplomatic superiority. Trump believes that this will not only send a clear signal to Putin, but will also encourage Russian citizens to reassess their views on the United States and come closer to having a better understanding of the nation and its efforts to foster friendly ties.
The Need for Cooperation
Despite his current policies, Trump believes in the importance of cooperation between the United States and Russia on a number of key issues. This includes nuclear nonproliferation, fighting terrorism, national security defense and more.
Trump understands that these issues need to not only be discussed by the two nations, but also must be agreed upon in order to ensure the best outcome possible. Trump believes that by maintaining open channels of communication and a willingness to cooperate, both Russia and the United States can develop a tense but respectful relationship.
Putin, who has served as president for over two decades, can be considered one of the most powerful leaders in the world today. Trump’s approach to this powerful head of state has been anything but conventional. Rather than resorting to diplomatic rhetoric and public critiques, Trump has chosen to take a more subtle approach, keeping in line with some of his own opinions on foreign policy.
By democking the Russian narrative, employing strategic sanctions, practicing silent diplomacy, regularly highlighting America’s strengths and keeping an open mind for cooperation, Trump hopes to outsmart Putin in the long run and create an environment of peace and respect between the two nations and their leaders.
