Russia US relations: Anti-Russia mood in US hard to eradicate

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Sunday that the US diplomatic mission in Russia must reduce its staff by 755 employees, which observers see as retaliation to new US sanctions. The US Congress passed a bill that toughens sanctions on Russia.

The anti-Russia sentiment prevails in the US. The wish of US President Donald Trump to improve ties with Russia meets strong resistance. Most Americans and pro-establishment forces believe Russia interfered in the US presidential elections last year. Although the US had interfered in other countries' elections, when it comes to Moscow, things are different.

The Russiagate scandal has put Trump and his team in a bind, which shows the deep-rooted hostility of the US against Russia. Although Putin and Trump hope for an ameliorated bilateral relationship, it is highly unlikely to become a reality.

The EU strongly opposes the bill that US congressmen passed because the bill includes sanctions that could wreak havoc on European energy companies. It is believed that by sanctioning Russia, the US will block Russia's natural gas supply to Europe and pave the way for US shale gas exports to the EU.

What is also worth noting is that much of US diplomacy is in the hands of the president and his administration. But Congress has become so powerful that the president has no choice but to follow Congress on US policy toward Russia, which is rare.

This shows the complexities of crafting US foreign policy. In the US' checks and balances system, various forces reinforce or contradict each other. It's impossible to fix ties with the US by dealing with one force.

Dealing with the US requires guts. Under the current system, the US only respects strength. The US does not like China either, while China has leverage on the US, which is the huge bilateral trade the US has been enjoying. Washington has to weigh the consequences if it chooses to turn hostile toward Beijing as China is the biggest trading partner of the US.

The US imposes insatiable requests on other countries. Russia has lost many republics from the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. It has adopted a multi-party system. But it is still viewed as an "authoritarian" country. No matter how much it bows to the US, the US will not embrace it.

As for Sino-US relations, as long as the two countries do not engage in a war and stick to trade, bilateral ties are in good shape, regardless of how US media and lawmakers hit out at China.

Read more: Anti-Russia mood in US hard to eradicate - Global Times

USA Presidency: More than half of voters polled say Trump has weakened the US - by Anita Kumar

He hasn’t even been in office three months but half of the nation’s voters already say President Donald Trump has weakened the United States’ role in the world, according to a new McClatchy-Marist poll.

Since he was inaugurated in January, Trump has been criticized for a series of what some call foreign policy missteps: authorizing a raid in Yemen in which a Navy SEAL died, criticizing a deal that calls for the U.S. to accept 1,250 refugees from Australia, and insulting German Chancellor Angela Merkel by refusing to shake her hand when they met at the White House.

And in January, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto canceled a meeting with Trump after the U.S. president insisted that Mexico pay for a wall along the U.S. southern border.

Fifty-five percent of voters polled said Trump has weakened the U.S.’s role in the world, up from 52 percent in February. That includes 83 percent of Democrats but also includes 59 percent of independents, 17 percent of Republicans and 12 percent of those who called themselves Trump supporters. Thirty-six percent said he has made the U.S. stronger. Nine percent were unsure.

Trump has invited several world leaders to the White House, including Prime Ministers Theresa May of Britain, Justin Trudeau of Canada, Shinzo Abe of Japan, Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, Angela Merkel of Germany and Lars Lokke Rasmussen of Denmark.

He will meet with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el Sissi Monday and Jordanian King Abdullah II Wednesday. He will Chinese President Xi Jinping later this week at his Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago.
T
rump is expected to take his first trip abroad as president in May when he attends the Group of Seven and NATO summits in Belgium and Italy. He is also expected to visit Canada and Britain this year.

“Even in the past month, his numbers for the image of the United States on the world stage and in his meeting with foreign leaders have declined, including among his GOP base,” said Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion in New York, which conducted the survey.

Note EU-Digest: Donald Trump is one of the most famous people in America, in part because he’s constantly reinventing himself. A New York real estate mogul, he became a tabloid celebrity for his flamboyant personal life, turned his name into a brand for everything from steaks to vodka to casinos, then became a reality TV star and a politician. Despite his years in the New York media spotlight, Trump’s time as the Republican presidential nominee has brought his entire life under scrutiny. TIME went through the archives to find rare photos from throughout his life and career.

Read more: More than half of voters polled say Trump has weakened the US

THE TRUMP DOCTRINE: Alliance Between Russia - US? As Tillerson - Putin′s friend becomes Trump′s Secretary of State

He's not even on the job yet, and Rex Tillerson is already facing a stiff headwind: The 64-year-old has no government experience; as the CEO of Exxon Mobil Corporation he cut business deals with autocrats, even allowing them to pin medals on his chest. Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio tweeted that he doesn't want a friend of Putin's in the State Department. Senator John McCain of Arizona, also a Republican, criticized Tillerson's close ties to the Kremlin as well. New Jersey Democratic Senator Bob Menendez called the decision "absurd." Others will join the chorus of critics. None of this bodes well for the Senate confirmation hearing that the future secretary of state will face. Majority approval seems anything but certain.

Nevertheless, Donald Trump has chosen him, and thus chosen to pick yet another fight with his own party. Why?

Both men see foreign policy as a business endeavor. And, to a certain degree it is - especially in the USA. But it is also something more. What about areas in which the USA has nothing to gain financially; for instance, when it comes to defending human rights? Those who are engaged in defending human dignity around the globe generally don't make a lot of friends - especially among dictators. For decades, American secretaries of state have done just that alongside their colleagues in Western Europe. And they have been successful if one considers the growing number of democracies throughout the world.

Note EU-Digest: the EU better start preparing a plan B in case the US cuts off their umbilical cord with the US, on which they have come to rely so heavily.

Read more: Opinion: Rex Tillerson - Putin′s friend and Trump′s secretary of state | Opinion | DW.COM | 13.12.2016

EU-US Relationship: The Atlantic Alliance needs a facelift - by RM

Is the Atlantc Alliance outdated?

Everyone seems ton be in total agreement that the US and the EU (Europe) share a lot of common values going back all the way to the American war of independence and the majority of the people on both side of the pond hope it will remain that way. 

Europe and the US need to support each other in these ideals - even though if we look at the US  reasons for helping out Europe in times of need, for instance during the first and second world war, this support also came because of US self interest.

If the Nazi's had won the war in Europe they would also become a direct threat to the existence of the US.

A similar situation developed during the the cold war with the Soviet Union.

What some visionary Europeans are suggesting today is that times have changed. Even though the basic principles on a large number of issues, including human rights are still common ideals in the US and the EU, there are also many areas of disagreement..

These including: but are not limited to, foreign policy, the environment, privacy rights, trade, financial laws, military alliances (NATO), and agricultural safety standards.

In other words - what is good for America is not necessarily good for the EU.

The EU needs to do some basic homework as to figuring out what needs to be achieved from within if the EU wants to become a truly independent world  player and this brain-storming must also include developing a new framework for the Atlantic Alliance with the US.

It is high time this happens, before the more than 500 million inhabitants of the EU lose faith in this greatest European political project ever undertaken in history.


EU-Digest

Europe's moments of 2013

One early morning in Lisbon I went to the Angolan Embassy. It was not yet 0800 and there was already a line of 400 people. One of the ironies of Europe's crisis was that thousands of Portuguese workers were heading to their former colonies in search of work.

Many of Europe's best and brightest were on the move. Since the crisis began over 300,000 Greeks have emigrated. 200,000 have left Ireland.

In the Italian city of Pisa the Swedish home furnishings chain Ikea planned to open a new store and advertised for 250 staff. It received 28,816 applications.

The EU's official statistics pointed to a jobless recovery, offering little hope to the 26 million out of work.

Europe since 2009 has had a foreign affairs chief, but few knew it. Baroness Ashton had been given the grand title of High Representative for Foreign Affairs. The job was ill defined and Cathy Ashton was wary of the press.

Behind the scenes, however, she worked tirelessly and in November held centre stage when the Iranians agreed to limit their nuclear programme. It was a diplomatic breakthrough. Others had been involved -mainly the Americans- but Cathy Ashton chaired the talks and made the case for dogged, persistent quiet diplomacy.

Read more: BBC News - Europe's moments of 2013