Putin in the Catbird Seat (29) - Deals! More Deals!

Today I read a piece arguing that Trump's diesel deal with Russia was of little import due to the relatively small amount of diesel fuel involved.

What was the point of Trump’s diesel deal with Russia? | The Spectator

The “small” volume of Russian diesel relative to total demand in the recent Putin–Trump arrangement is beside the point.

Deals are the right approach with Russia.

Here are four reasons the United States and Russia should move toward closer practical "deal" cooperation:

1. Cultural alignment.

Putin and the Russian Orthodox Church present Russia as a defender of traditional values, the family, and national sovereignty against Western liberalism, radical secularism, and certain social changes. That framing resonates with segments of the European right and MAGA who prioritize anti-woke, pro-national, and pro-family positions.

2. Pragmatic interests of European populists.

Energy costs, fiscal constraints, and migration skepticism largely explain the European right’s relatively softer stance toward Russia. AfD figures have been especially open about wanting gas deals. If populists gain power across Europe, expect more energy agreements and reduced mutual antagonism between those governments and Moscow.

3. Migration and security models.

Russia’s 1999–2000 campaign that secured Grozny was a clear military success in reasserting federal control after the First Chechen War. If Marine Le Pen wins the French presidency next year, Putin has relevant experience addressing non-assimilating and disruptive immigrant populations that other Western leaders lack.

4. A potential wedge with China.

The recent diesel deals are not, by themselves, large enough to reshape Russia–China relations. They could, however, mark the start of a process: larger and more frequent energy and commercial agreements involving the United States and Europe that gradually give Russia alternatives and reduce its dependence on Beijing.