It is often said that Russia would never have attacked Ukraine if Donald Trump was still the president of the United States (U.S.)and that the U.S. had not waged new wars while he was the head of state.
Although the latter statement may technically be true, it is a superficial and ignorant understanding of international relations, which can be especially dangerous when we live in a new era of wars, but also when it becomes clear that Trump could be the U.S. president again.
A staggering number of new conflicts
Yes, a staggering number of armed conflicts have escalated. There is no end in sight to the Russia-Ukraine war, and the Gaza war, which began after Israel responded to a Hamas attack with a siege, bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza, is still raging.
Trump dominates the poll
Trump won more than half of the vote in Iowa’s caucus on Monday, giving him a strong tailwind in what looks set to be a close and tight race with Democratic incumbent Joe Biden.
The former president is supported by 49 percent of Republicans, the results of the poll showed. Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley received the support of 12 percent of Republicans, and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis received 11 percent. About 18 percent of those surveyed said they did not know who they would support.
He declared that he had no war, but also that there was no terrorism
Let’s recall two of his statements. He once said that there were no terrorist attacks during his four years in office. On another occasion, he asserted that he is the only president who has not started a new war in 72 years.
“Trump would discuss Ukraine with Putin”
“Ukraine is one of the problems. I suspect that Trump will be ready to discuss the fate of Ukraine with Putin. If Europe wants to take responsibility for its own security, then it will be forced to define its autonomous position and policy towards Russia, independently in Ukraine,” says foreign policy analyst Bozo Kovacevic.
He recalled Putin’s three conditions for peace in Ukraine.
“These are the denazification, demilitarization and neutrality of Ukraine. Trump doesn’t care what the Ukrainians think about it. If he estimates that accepting those terms will relieve America of the costs of financing the war in Ukraine, he will accept Putin’s terms, N1 writes.