The mysterious Trump-Putin relationship
The mystery remains about the strange relationship between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. The summit between the US and Russian presidents on Monday in Helsinki, Finland, did nothing to dispel the thick cloud that has hung over the two men since the 2016 presidential election.
An analysis by Christian Latreille, Washington correspondent
On the contrary, doubts remain and questions are mounting about President Trump's real intentions towards Russia. The latter is right to want to restore communication between Washington and Moscow. These two nuclear powers must talk to each other and maintain constructive ties to avoid conflict.
It is one thing to want to rebuild bridges, but it is quite another not to be critical of Russia, which does not want the United States well, let alone democracy. . Donald Trump gave everything to Vladimir Putin in Helsinki without getting anything in return.
The White House chief has never been able to publicly confront the Kremlin chief on the issue of Russian interference during the US election campaign. Nothing, not even an admonition, warning or warning has been addressed to Vladimir Putin.
An "act of treason"
The Justice Department had laid the groundwork for President Trump three days before the summit. Twelve Russians from the military intelligence service were charged with, among other things, conspiracy and theft of documents. The American intelligence services and justice are convinced that the Russians have infiltrated the computers of the Democratic Party to help the election of the billionaire.
Donald Trump had only to place Vladimir Putin in front of the evidence accumulated by his intelligence services and recorded in the indictment of some 30 pages. Many Americans would have liked to see their president more combative against his Russian counterpart. But it didn't turn out like that.
Trump preferred to believe a former KGB's version at the expense of information obtained by his own FBI, CIA, and NSA agents. Washington is unleashed over the abdication of the White House chief.
Former CIA Director John Brennan spoke of an act of treason. Donald Trump staunch Newt Gingrich said the Helsinki press conference was his presidency's biggest mistake and needed to be fixed.
Even Republican Paul Ryan, the Speaker of the House, has argued that Donald Trump will one day have to understand that Russia is not an ally of the United States.
A weakened president
After treating the Prime Minister of Canada, the German Chancellor, the Prime Minister of Great Britain and all NATO allies cavalierly, Trump was all smiles with whoever wanted to derail the American electoral process.
After this press conference, it is difficult to know where the President of the United States is housed. On the side of democracy or with those who wish to see it disappear? The question remains open and worries more and more Americans. Why is the president unable to criticize his Russian counterpart?
"Is this the new Trump doctrine to destabilize its allies for the profit of foreign powers? What should we understand from this flirtation with Vladimir Putin which has lasted since the presidential campaign? Does Moscow have compromising information on Donald Trump? US President vulnerable to blackmail? "
Vladimir Putin replied no. He does not have anything, according to him, which could be harmful to the American president. He also categorically denied giving the order to interfere with the 2016 presidential campaign. Despite all these denials, Putin is the big winner at this summit. Donald Trump returned to Washington weakened.
If Donald Trump does not seem to have a plan to counter Russia, Vladimir Putin has several against the West. He wants to undermine the credibility of Western democracies, destabilize NATO, expand its area of influence and make Russia a key player on the international stage.
Democrats and Republicans have long told Donald Trump that Russia is not America's friend. Vladimir Putin's list of ambitions should convince him of this. But the US president seems ready to pay the price to please President Putin. Even at the risk of sounding like a traitor in the eyes of some Americans. But why exactly?
That's a question Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller has been trying to answer for 14 months. He wants to know if Trump knew what the Russians were up to. With the mounting evidence, it is getting harder and harder for the president to cry witch hunts. Until Mueller's investigation is completed, the mysterious Trump-Putin relationship remains an enigma.
