SENSINGS ON ‘TRUMPUTIN’ (COLLISION TO COLLUSION)
SUMMIT 15 AUGUST 2025
“The subtle yet diametrically opposite meaning derived by substituting
the alphabet I with U in the word ‘collision’ is the essence of the
‘TrumPutin’ summit; an attempt at reset in US Russia geopolitical relationship
from confrontation to transformative collaboration.” – Col RS Sidhu
Future at Crossroads
There is rare unanimity of thought across
all the key parameters that drive the affairs of nations the world over – geoeconomic,
geopolitical, cultural mindsets, and alignment of the stars – that the world is
hurtling towards an inevitable collision in the affairs of nations climaxing in
the next two to three years.
However, there is always that window
of opportunity open till the end for the saner voices to prevail and convert the
dominant US Russia international relations from one of collision to collusion.
Symbolism of the Place of Summit
Alaska, a vast 586, 400 square miles
of virgin land, was a Russian territory till it was sold by it for US Dollar 7.2
million in 1867 to the US. Alaska is a mere 300 miles from the North Pole, with
the mineral rich Polar land mass and the adjoining maritime waters being a bone
of contention between the US, Russia, and the Scandinavian countries.
During the last Ice Age, Alaska acted
as a land bridge connecting the land mass of America and Asia, till a sudden 6
degree Centigrade rise in global temperatures around 10,000 BCE, and the
resultant increase in the mean sea level by around 100 meters, caused the
formation of the Bering Straits.
This 82 kms wide maritime channel,
and the International Date Line passing through it, now represent the deep
divide between Russia and the US.
During the WW II, Alaska acted as an ‘air
bridge’ between US and USSR for ferrying US military equipment and supplies
to the USSR across the Bering Straits, to support the war against Nazi Germany;
a key factor in bolstering the war fighting potential of the Russian Army.
Aloof from the negative energies of
the US mainland, it symbolises both, the disconnect and the meeting points between
the US and Russia.
Beyond ‘TrumPutin’ ‘Meeting of Minds’
The aura vibrations of the two Presidents
sensed during the joint address to the media clearly indicate an undeniable ‘TrumPutin’
‘meeting of minds.’ But that by itself is not enough.
There are two root issues that shall
impact the final outcome. The most critical is guarantees of US adherence
to a long term recalibration of US Russia relations, post Trump
administration, to the satisfaction of Russia. This is solely dependent on
the ability of POTUS Donald Trump to orchestrate quid pro quo concessions to the
energy and armaments lobbies to get them onboard.
The second root issue is Russia’s place
in the inevitable new European security architecture to replace the
existing NATO and EU regime. The future of Ukraine territories and of its
President Volodymyr Zelensky is secondary; sacrificing national leaders, and even
nations, at the altar of expediency is all too common in European history. Obtaining
consent from the major EU countries shall be the biggest stumbling block, as
the historical rivalries and cultural angst go too deep.
This is where geoeconomics aspects
shall take the lead role, by dangling the carrot of a joint economic development
of natural resources in the mineral rich far eastern Siberian region of Russia
and the Polar land mass and the maritime region adjoining it. POTUS Trump, adept
at ‘carrot & stick’ approach to economic and geopolitical negotiations, just
may be able to pull off this master act.
Geopolitical Impact
Even the holding of the yet
inconclusive ‘TrumPutin’ summit, has set alarm bells ringing across the globe
from London, Paris, Brussels, Berlin, Delhi, Tokyo to Beijing.
The most profound impact shall be on
the nascent Russia India China (RIC) triangle of disparate interests, and the BRICS
grouping. Here, it will be dependent on the ability of Russia to bring onboard
China and India into a collaborative approach by factoring their core interests
in future negotiations with the US; a tall order indeed.
But a glimmer of hope, howsoever dim,
has appeared on the horizon. Whether it brightens or dies out shall be clearer
by November of the year.
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