WASHINGTON (AP) – President Joe Biden was quickly launched into a balancing act with Russia as he seeks to harden his government’s position against Vladimir Putin, while preserving space for diplomacy in a post-Donald Trump era.
The relationship is sure to be different from what Putin had with Trump, who was in love with the Russian leader and sought his approval, casting doubt on Russian interference in the 2016 elections and involvement in a massive hack last year. Despite this conciliatory approach, his government followed a hard line against Moscow, imposing sanctions on the country, Russian companies and business leaders on issues ranging from Ukraine to energy supplies and attacks on dissidents.
Unlike his immediate predecessors, Biden has no hope of a “restart” in relations with Russia, but instead, he has indicated that he wants to manage differences with the former Cold War enemy without necessarily resolving them or improving ties. . And, with a heavy domestic agenda and imminent decisions about Iran and China, a direct confrontation with Russia is not something he seeks.
When Biden speaks to Putin for the first time, he is expected to call Putin for the arrest of opposition figure Alexei Navalny and the weekend crackdown on his supporters, raising accusations that Russian security services are behind the recent breach massive cybersecurity and press claims that Russia The Taliban rewards American troops in Afghanistan.
At the same time, Biden must be aware of his own proposal to extend the latest arms control treaty between the United States and Russia, which is due to expire in early February, for five years.
On Monday, Biden told reporters that he had not yet decided how to respond to Navalny’s situation, but expressed hope that the United States and Russia could cooperate in areas where both see benefits.
“I think we can operate in the mutual interest of our countries as a new START agreement and make it clear to Russia that we are very concerned about their behavior, whether it’s Navalny, SolarWinds or reports of head rewards for Americans in Afghanistan,” said Biden.
Biden has already ordered the intelligence community to launch analyzes of each of these issues, according to the White House, which on Friday said the U.S. proposal to extend the New START would be accompanied by a reckoning on other matters .
This approach has been endorsed by some former US diplomats who have dealt with Russia and are eager to see how Biden’s team, including national security adviser Jake Sullivan and his nominee to be number 3 in the State Department, Victoria Nuland, will outline the contours of Russian politics.
Nuland, in particular, is insulted by Putin and his aides for his support of pro-Western politicians in Ukraine and occupied Europe’s portfolio at the State Department during President Barack Obama’s second term. She and Sullivan share opinions on how to deal with Moscow, taking a tough stance on Russia’s human rights and intentions in central and eastern Europe, while maintaining an open channel with the Kremlin on other issues.
But their initial position is complicated, they say, especially due to Putin’s experience in dealing with Trump, who has often undermined his own government’s aggressive stance on Russia, in particular trying to please the Russian leader.
“It is difficult, but it is doable,” said Daniel Fried, US ambassador to Poland and assistant secretary of state for European affairs under the George W. Bush administration. “They will have to find this out on the spot, but it is important to seek the New START without hesitation and postpone Navalny’s arrest and other matters without guilt.”
“They need to do both and not allow Putin to tell them that they will not accept the New START unless they leave Navalny, SolarWinds or Afghanistan,” said Fried, who is now at the Atlantic Council. “You have to step back and you can’t let Putin define the terms.”
Putin, however, can be cautious due to his uncertain domestic situation after the pro-Navalny protests that took place in more than 100 cities over the weekend.
Biden’s team has already responded strongly to the crackdown on Navalny’s supporters over the weekend when more than 3,700 people were arrested at demonstrations across Russia, including more than 1,400 in Moscow.
Navalny, an anti-corruption activist and Putin’s fiercest critic, was arrested on January 17 on his way back from Germany to Russia, where he spent nearly five months recovering from a nervous agent poisoning he attributes to the Kremlin. Russian officials deny the charges.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki and State Department spokesman Ned Price called for Navalny’s immediate and unconditional release, as well as those arrested in the crackdown.