President Trump’s Foreign Policy: The Case of Eastern Europe

“I am here today not just to visit an old ally, but to hold it up as an example for others who seek freedom and who wish to summon the courage and the will to defend our civilization.… Today, the West is also confronted by the powers that seek to test our will… We urge Russia to cease its destabilizing activities in Ukraine and elsewhere… Americans know that a strong alliance of free, sovereign and independent nations is the best defense for our freedoms.” President Donald Trump

By Nicholas Dima l July 25, 2017

Washington’s foreign policy under President Trump must address a series of global challenges. One of them is confronting Russia’s attitude in Europe.

Moscow is using the carrot to lure Western Europe away from America and the stick to threaten Eastern Europe – defined as the former Soviet satellite countries plus the three Baltic republics that regained their independence after the dissolution of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics (USSR). These countries stretch from the Baltic Sea to Central Europe and further south to the Black Sea. Their integration into NATO has upset Russia, and the newly created American military bases in Poland and Romania have enraged it.

What has led to this new East-West confrontation and what is to be expected?

Except for Ukraine, an Eastern European country that Moscow will never give up willingly, Poland, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are the countries that historically suffered most at the hands of the Soviet Union. To safeguard their independence, these countries joined the North Atlantic Alliance. As a candidate, Donald Trump downplayed the importance of NATO giving the impression he would cozy up to Moscow. He was less vocal toward the Russian annexation of Crimea and showed little interest for Eastern Europe. This attitude created confusion and concern among many Eastern Europeans. However, once in the White House, he had to face the cold reality of the world as it is. And Europe figured high on his international agenda...........To Read More....