Podcast host Alex Gabuev is joined by Yanmei Xie, an independent researcher, and David Rennie, the geopolitics editor at The Economist, to discuss the theory behind the recent pivot in U.S. foreign policy toward Russia.
What is the reason for the sudden change of heart in U.S. policy on Russia under the Trump administration? One theory is that Donald Trump is trying to lure Russia out of China’s sphere of influence and drive a wedge between Moscow and Beijing, a move described by some as a “reverse Kissinger.” How accurate is that theory, and does the U.S. administration have the instruments needed to pry China and Russia apart?