Donald Trump He has proven to be a cunning strategist in his approach to foreign policy, especially with regard to Russia and China. In fact, It could be argued that Trump is, in many ways, Henry Kissinger’s best studentthe renowned diplomat who played a crucial role in American foreign policy during the Cold War. Because? Because, Like Kissinger, Trump understands that a possible alliance between Russia and China could significantly alter the world of world power, and seems willing to do whatever necessary to avoid it.
To understand Trump’s approach, it is necessary to go back in time and remember the ideas of Kissinger himself, who during the Cold war He perceived a clear danger: a narrow alliance between China and the Soviet Union. Kissinger was a teacher of realistic diplomacy, an approach that sought to guarantee the interests of the United States without necessarily resorting to direct conflict.
Kissinger believed that a solid collaboration between China and Russia, two powers with vast borders and a series of complementary geopolitical interests, could challenge the hegemony of the United States and its allies. In fact, this alliance would represent an opposite block of power, capable of redefining global policy. The American diplomat saw with concern the possibility that both countries, traditionally rivals, unite forces, which could destabilize world order.
Throughout the 70s, Kissinger actively worked to avoid this union, seeking to approach China and separate this nation from Soviet influence. The famous “approach to China” under the Nixon administration was, in large part, a maneuver to prevent China and the Soviet Union from joining, which would have meant a direct threat to the global leadership of the United States.
Today, tRump seems to have taken a page of that book of diplomatic strategies, with the proviso that the main strategic competitor of the United States in the 21st century is not Russia, but China. In economic and military terms, China has emerged as the main threat to Washington’s global supremacy. For this reason, Trump has focused much of his foreign policy to counteract China’s economic, technological and military ascent.
However, like Kissinger in his time, Trump understands that a narrower alliance between China and Russia could further consolidate China as an indisputable global power. A solid relationship between these two giants could, in effect, create a formidable geopolitical block capable of challenging the influence of the United States in several regions of the world. In this sense, Trump has adopted a similar approach to Kissinger’s: preventing Russia from aligning with China, which would even more strengthen Beijing and alter global balance.
Trump, in turn, is convinced that a narrower relationship in his country with Russia could be beneficial for the interests of the United States. The president sees diplomacy with Russia as a way of addressing several global problems, such as the fight against terrorism, stability in the Middle East and nuclear weapons control. In turn, Trump has pointed out that an improvement in relations with Russia could contribute to a decalmade tensions in the Eurasiática region, preventing Moscow from feeling pushed to join more closely with Beijing.
This “defrost” approach relations with Russia also responds to Trump’s concern to change the dynamics of the relationship between Russia and Europe. Since the Cold War, the relationship between NATO and Russia has been tense, and Trump has sought to modify that situation. If Russia approached China too much, the consequences could be negative for the relations of the United States with Europe and especially with NATO member countries. Trump, therefore, tries to avoid a situation in which Russia and China join a common front against Western influence, particularly in Europe and Asia.
Both Kissinger and Trump share a strategic approach to “political realism”, where the main objective is global stability and the defense of national interests without the need for a direct conflict. Although their contexts and challenges are different, both understand that geopolitical competence is not only about direct clashes, but also skillfully playing alliances and disagreements.
By preventing Russia and China from joining in a solid block, Trump follows a strategy that has its roots in Kissinger’s vision: to dismantle possible alliances that threaten the global order led by the United States. In this sense, Trump seems to be an heir to Kissinger’s teachings, an applied student who follows a strategy proven in the geopolitics arena. The problem, of course, now has Volodomir Zelenski, who is about to discover in his own flesh Kissinger’s old man: “Being the enemy of the United States is dangerous, but being a friend, sometimes, can be fatal.”
Dr. In International Relations
Source: Ambito
David William is a talented author who has made a name for himself in the world of writing. He is a professional author who writes on a wide range of topics, from general interest to opinion news. David is currently working as a writer at 24 hours worlds where he brings his unique perspective and in-depth research to his articles, making them both informative and engaging.
