US-Russian Relations Restoration

Published in Chunichi Shimbun
(Japan) on 9 July 2017
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Deborah Chapin. Edited by Laurence Bouvard.
It seems a step has been taken in the direction of restoring U.S.-Russian relations, which are said to be the worst since after the Cold War. It was the first meeting between the two leaders, Trump and Putin. However, in order to drastically improve relations, it is crucial for the "Russiagate" suspicions be clarified.

It is certain that the meeting resulted in both leaders agreeing on a cease-fire in southwest Syria. As the Syrian civil war enters its seventh year, more than 400,000 people have died. About two-thirds of the population, around 12 million, have either fled the country as refugees or have been driven from their homes inside the country.

The United States and Russia should cooperate in order to end the worst humanitarian crisis. First of all, I would like to see influence being brought to bear over the parties involved, Assad’s administration and the rebel powers, in order to make them comply with a cease-fire.

American authorities have concluded that, in order to give Trump an advantage, Russia intervened in the United States presidential election last year by launching a cyberattack on campaign accounts. Suspicion has also been raised over whether or not those in Trump’s camp also colluded in the "Russiagate" scandal.

This problem was also raised during the discussion between Putin and Trump, and according to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, the discussion between the two leaders was difficult and drawn out. Also, Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, told the press that Trump accepted Putin’s denial of the allegations,which Trump also continued to deny. In addition, the day before the discussion, Trump ambiguously remarked that no one really knows the truth. Looking at his behavior, we find Trump’s strenuous protest suddenly difficult to believe.

The United States and Europe are very concerned about Russian intervention in elections, because such intervention damages the basis of the democratic system and cannot be ignored. In May, French President Emmanuel Macron ignored the fact that Putin was sitting next to him at a joint conference and criticized Russian state media for spreading falsehoods and propaganda during the French presidential election.

The Russians highly value the fact that, this time, the summit was a breakthrough in improving relations. Unlike previous presidents, Trump conveniently tries to make deals concerning humanitarian problems without nagging.

Russia expects the economic sanctions, which the U.S. and Europe imposed on their country after it annexed Crimea, will be lifted, and that their annexation of Crimea will finally be recognized, bringing an end to the problem with Ukraine.

The international community also hopes that the United States and Russia can join hands, despite their different positions. However, the "Russiagate" scandal has become a burden on U.S.-Russian cooperation. Investigating authorities are also looking into allegations that Trump obstructed justice. I would like to request that Trump seriously strive to clarify what the situation really is.


「冷戦後最悪」と言われる米ロ関係の修復に向けた一歩にはなったようだ。トランプ、プーチン両首脳の初顔合わせ。ただし、抜本的な関係改善には「ロシアゲート」疑惑の解明が欠かせない。
 両首脳がシリア南西部での停戦で合意したのは一定の成果だ。
 七年目に入ったシリア内戦は、四十万人以上の死者を出した。国外に逃れた難民、国内避難民ら家を追われた人々は人口の約三分の二に相当する千二百万人に上る。
 こうした最悪の人道危機を終わらせるために米ロは連携すべきだ。まずは、停戦が順守されるようアサド政権や反体制勢力ら当事者に影響力を発揮してほしい。
 昨年の米大統領選をめぐり米当局は、ロシアがトランプ氏の有利になるようハッカー攻撃によって介入したと断定した。トランプ陣営もこれに結託していたのではないかというロシアゲート疑惑が浮上した。
 会談ではこの問題も取り上げられ、ティラーソン米国務長官によると、両首脳は「強硬かつ長時間」渡り合ったという。一方、ラブロフ・ロシア外相は疑惑を否定したプーチン氏の説明をトランプ氏は受け入れたと報道陣に語った。
 トランプ氏は疑惑を否定し続けてきた。会談の前日も「本当のところは誰にも分からない」とあいまいな発言をした。こうした言動からすると、トランプ氏が強く抗議したとはにわかに信じ難い。
 欧米はロシアによる選挙介入に警戒感が強い。民主主義体制の根幹を毀損(きそん)する行動であり、看過できるものではないからだ。
 マクロン仏大統領は五月、共同会見したプーチン氏を横に置いて、仏大統領選挙中にロシアの国営メディアが「虚偽を流すプロパガンダを展開した」と非難した。
 ロシア側は今回の首脳会談が関係改善の突破口となったと高く評価している。歴代の米大統領とは違って、人道問題でうるさいことは言わずに取引を図ろうとするトランプ氏は都合が良いのだろう。
 クリミア併合に伴う欧米の対ロ経済制裁を解除させ、最終的には併合も認めさせてウクライナ問題にけりをつけたい思惑がロシアにはある。
 米ロが立場の違いを超えて手を取り合うことを国際社会も期待する。だが、ロシアゲートは米ロ協調の足かせになっている。捜査当局はトランプ氏の司法妨害疑惑も調べている。真相解明に真剣に取り組むようトランプ氏に求めたい。
This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

Hot this week

South Korea: Trump Halts Military Aid to Taiwan, and It Concerns Us, Too

Turkey: Will the US Be a Liberal Country Again?

Pakistan: US Debt and Global Economy

Japan: ‘Department of War’ Renaming: The Repulsiveness of a Belligerent Attitude

Malaysia: The Tariff Trap: Why America’s Protectionist Gambit Only Tightens China’s Grip on Global Manufacturing

Topics

South Korea: Trump Halts Military Aid to Taiwan, and It Concerns Us, Too

Japan: ‘Department of War’ Renaming: The Repulsiveness of a Belligerent Attitude

Turkey: Will the US Be a Liberal Country Again?

Singapore: TikTok Deal Would Be a Major Win for Trump, but Not in the Way You Might Expect

Pakistan: US Debt and Global Economy

Mexico: Qatar, Trump and Venezuela

Mexico: Nostalgia for the Invasions

Related Articles

Singapore: TikTok Deal Would Be a Major Win for Trump, but Not in the Way You Might Expect

Mexico: Nostalgia for the Invasions

Malaysia: The Tariff Trap: Why America’s Protectionist Gambit Only Tightens China’s Grip on Global Manufacturing

Japan: US Signing of Japan Tariffs: Reject Self-Righteousness and Fulfill Agreement

Germany: When Push Comes to Shove, Europe Stands Alone*