CIS secretary general: The impact of Trump’s policies on the Eurasian continent is still uncertain

The intention of U.S. President Donald Trump to restore security dialogue and interactions with Russia inspires cautious optimism, CIS Secretary General Sergey Lebedev told Soyuzniki: CSTO (Союзники. ОДКБ).

“On the one hand, as noted by several CIS leaders in recent statements, Trump’s determination to restore dialogue on regional security issues—confirmed by direct contacts with the highest leadership of Russia and China—instills moderate optimism. I am sure that the willingness to take such steps is a primary condition for finding compromise solutions and restoring mutual trust,” Lebedev stated.

Commenting on the impact of the current situation in the United States on the Eurasian region, Lebedev noted that Trump came to power amid “intense internal political struggles, social polarization, and numerous acts of violence, which highlighted the unprecedented incompatibility of the agendas put forth by Republican and Democratic candidates.”

“In reality, U.S. citizens faced two alternatives: either to continue down the path outlined by the previous administration or to embark on a new course in the country’s modern history,” he noted.

According to the CIS secretary general, “it is not surprising that Mr. Trump, having received a mandate from the majority of voters to refresh the political course, has begun to reassess the policies of his predecessors.”

Lebedev noted that so far, the outlines of Trump’s foreign policy strategy “have not had the time to manifest themselves to the extent necessary to make predictions about potential changes in the state of affairs on the Eurasian continent.”