Trump’s shrewdness with Russia showing with Tillerson pick

One of the main reasons why Hillary Clinton lost the election had to do with perceived and actual security breaches with regards to her private email communications and the hacking of the Democratic Party.  The recent report by the CIA that Russia was the likely culprit behind the DNC infiltration should not be taken lightly or turned into a political football.

Despite an attempt towards a détente in U.S.-Russia relations early in the Obama administration, they have suffered recently due to the Russian actions in Crimea and its’ involvement in Syria propping up the Assad regime. While Trump has signaled a pivot away from regime change as a policy objective — a move likely to ease tensions with Russia — he should not take Russia lightly.

{mosads}Putin is an old hand, a master at both spycraft and statecraft. He has fashioned a strong-man image in Russia banked on his ability to flout the West. And his interference in U.S. elections should be a cause for concern by the Trump administration even though it may have been a perceived media benefit, in the short run at least.  

While the CIA and mainstream media points to circumstantial evidence to support their claim, President-elect Trump has called the claims by the CIA baseless and attacked the agency in an interview with Fox News host, Chris Wallace. 

This is dangerous territory, and the president-elect must be careful to remember that Russia is not a friendly nation to the United States, which is indicative of the bi-partisan support in the House and Senate to looking into the Russian hacks.

Both Trump and Tillerson need to know that Putin is Machiavellian and gets rid of ppl who expose him as such. Both Bush&Obama were hoodwinkd

— ChuckGrassley (@ChuckGrassley) December 13, 2016

Trump’s political instincts may tell him that this allegation of Russian meddling on the part of his political adversaries is an attempt to delegitimize his presidency and weaken him politically. And while some of that may be true, he should also know that the intelligence assessment by the CIA is probably based on substantive knowledge. It would not have been communicated so publicly if the various scenarios had not been thoroughly analyzed.  

Trump needs to be very wary of the Russians. It is apparent that Putin believes not only that he could manipulate the U.S. elections, but also that he can manipulate Donald Trump by insinuating respect and personal admiration.  

Putin, however, may be underestimating Trump, as so many others have in the past. While Trump is not a polished statesman yet, The President-elect’s record of success in the business arena has revealed a shrewdness that is not always apparent upon first glance.  

Trump’s unconventional choice of ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson to lead the State Department is a case in point. It signals a shift away from the current geopolitical frameworks based on broad regional consensus — the One China Policy for example — and towards a transactional approach more closely tailored to U.S. interests.

The thing I like best about Rex Tillerson is that he has vast experience at dealing successfully with all types of foreign governments.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 13, 2016

It also suggests that domestic economic concerns, not exerting global power as the world’s policeman, will be a primary driver of U.S. diplomatic relationships under the new administration. Under such a framework, ceding responsibility to Russia in addressing critical global issues such as terrorism makes complete sense.   

America faces critical economic challenges with an almost $20 trillion national debt, and cannot afford to maintain the same sprawling military presence around the world.  The U.S. needs capable partners — including Russia, Japan and the Europeans — to step up to the plate.

Trump also has a team around him that is capable and acutely aware of the stakes. Putin’s continued hold on power despite the dire economic problems in Russia is predicated at least in part on his ability to stoke Russian national pride. And being seen at home as a co-equal player in geopolitics with the United States probably helps him maintain that perception.

While Putin himself may be a ‘frenemy,’ it is certainly in the U.S. interests, during a transition of power, to promote a stable Russian state.