People who grew up old school understand that the two toughest kids on the block are going to get into a fight. On a global scale, the United States and Russia are these two toughest kids, but with enough nuclear weapons to reduce the planet to ash.
From the Cuban Missile Crisis, through the Cold War, to the breakup of the Soviet Union, we’ve teetered on the brink even though it was in everyone’s interest to get along. But with the worldwide threat of radical Islamic terrorism, rogue regimes, and trade deficits on the rise, Americans need a Russian alliance more than ever.
Combating Terrorism
Recent news reports about President Donald Trump sharing a terror threat to airlines received tremendous pushback from liberal-leaning news outlets and politicians.
While National Security Advisor Gen. H.R. McMaster assured the public the information sharing was “wholly appropriate,” the controversy highlights the opposition to bridging the U.S.-Russia diplomacy gap.
Terrorism is exactly the place where the two superpowers’ interests intersect and cooperation could be most beneficial.
The short-sighted foreign policy of former President Barack Obama led to ISIS controlling large tracts of land, and establishing a caliphate in the Middle East. The U.S. and Russia have both aligned with Islamic nations to defeat ISIS and other terror groups.
Unfortunately, we remain on opposites sides of the fence in terms of allies. The Russians back Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Iran, and Turkish forces. The U.S. stands with Iraq and coalition forces that include NATO members. This division of anti-ISIS forces benefits the insurgents on the battlefield and their imminent migration to Western countries.
American citizens would be safer with a U.S.-Russian alliance that actively shared information about terror groups and was proactive about neutralizing threats.
Confronting Rogue Nations
Many believe that U.S.-Russia relations are at the lowest point since the Cold War. As global adversaries, each picks up alliances with the other’s enemies. Russia has formed strong ties with North Korea and Iran, America’s fiercest opponents.
The old saying about “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” holds true in international politics – but it doesn’t have to be this way.
As North Korea works toward perfecting a missile that can “annihilate” Hawaii or a West Coast city, Russia cites joint military operations between the U.S. and South Korea as provocative.
Trump and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson have wooed China to help reduce the North Korean threat. If Vladimir Putin followed suit, North Korea would be void of allies, and potentially forced to yield. Russia remains one of North Korea’s few remaining lifelines.
Trade Interests
It may come as a surprise, but the United States and Russia do enjoy ongoing trade. The recent litany of sanctions only targeted specific businesses and people. What may not be surprising is that the United States is again on the short-end of the stick.
In 2016, the U.S. suffered a deficit of just under $9 billion. Americans haven’t been on the winning side since the early 1990s, and the first quarter of 2017 topped out at a negative $2.6 billion.
While punitive sanctions may placate America’s left who insist Russian meddling cost Hillary Clinton the White House, a vast market remains relatively untouched. Their major exports are primarily oil, lumber, raw materials and machinery.
Russia imports nearly 20 percent of its electronic equipment, clothing, machinery and cars from China and 11 percent from Germany. Normalizing trade relations would open the Russian marketplace, and help job creation in America’s struggling manufacturing sector.
Is NATO A Scam?
The issue of NATO members not paying their fair share of defense costs has come to a boil. Only four other countries have met their responsibility out of 28, with the U.S. paying the lion’s share at nearly $700 million or 72 percent of the total expenses.
This alliance is predicated on the once-true theory that Russia posed an imminent threat. However, the money passing back and forth between the EU and Russia paint a very different picture.
The Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and other NATO countries rank as top trading partners with Russia. In fact, the majority of Russian exports are delivered to NATO-allied nations. This runs contrary to the idea that Americans should foot the bill to thwart Russian aggression.
One might surmise that our allies are merely skipping out on a bill. A U.S.-Russian alliance would curb the need for these excessive expenditures, open the door for the EU to support itself militarily, and stop taking Americans to the cleaners.
There are major areas that the two superpowers share national interests. Brokering a healthy alliance increases the security and economic stability of every American.
~ Facts Not Memes
