There has been a sudden thaw in relations between Russia and the United States with the return to office of President Donald Trump.
The US leader has spoken to his counterpart Vladimir Putin by telephone, sent his Secretary of State to Saudi Arabia for the first high-level talks between the powers since Russia invaded Ukraine, and started preparing for a summit, as early as this month.
The rapid shift in direction, and Trump’s embracing of Kremlin talking points while feuding with Ukraine and sidelining them from talks, has raised alarm bells about security in Europe.
A televised clash in the White House on Friday between Trump and Vladimir Zelensky has sparked further concerns.
There were times in the past when the sudden cosying up between Moscow and Washington may have also triggered diplomatic angst in Beijing. Yet it appears that times have changed markedly from the Cold War days when President Richard Nixon warmed up to Mao Zedong’s China in order to contain the Soviet Union and influence their leaders.
Interestingly, a different dynamic seems to be at work. This change was illustrated last Monday, the third anniversary of war in Ukraine, when Putin picked up the telephone to brief President Xi Jinping on recent developments in the US-Russia relationship.
