Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 22 March 2017
Closer US-Russia ties uncertain as Tillerson plans trip

JOSH LEDERMAN block to a new Russia ap-
Associated Press proach may be the politi-
WASHINGTON (AP) — With cal realities at home.
Russia-tinged investigations In a remarkable public
swirling around his admin- disclosure Monday, FBI Di-
istration, President Donald rector James Comey said
Trump has yet to fulfill a the bureau is investigating
campaign pledge of closer whether Trump campaign
cooperation with Moscow. associates coordinated
A planned trip by Secre- with Russian officials as
tary of State Rex Tillerson to Moscow sought to sway
Russia could test if detente the U.S. presidential elec-
proves anything more than tion. Several congressio-
talk. nal committees are also
In a move alarming U.S. al- investigating, ensuring
lies, Tillerson plans to skip a the allegations of Russian
meeting of NATO foreign meddling — and questions
ministers in Belgium next about Trump campaign
month, according to U.S. collusion — stay in the spot-
officials. The top American light for months to come.
diplomat almost always Trump has denied any col-

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, left, arrives in the prime minister’s official residence to meet attends such gatherings, laboration between his
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in Tokyo, Japan. With Russia-tinged investigations swirling and Tillerson will follow up campaign and Russia. As
around his administration, President Donald Trump has yet to fulfill a campaign pledge of closer his absence in Brussels by a candidate, he spoke fre-
cooperation with Moscow. A planned trip by Tillerson to Russia could test if detente proves traveling to Russia’s capital quently of his admiration
anything more than talk. shortly afterward. for Russian President Vladi-
(Franck Robichon/Pool Photo via AP) The juxtaposition of the mir Putin and said improv-
trips — one taken and one ing relations with the tradi-
avoided — has reinforced tional U.S. adversary would
concerns about America’s be positive. He argued that
commitment to NATO, Russia shared America’s
which Trump has repeated- goal of defeating IS ex-
ly fueled by dressing down tremists.
allies as deadbeats who That’s about as far as the
aren’t paying enough for new relationship has gone.
their own defense and who “Tillerson will need to pub-
take U.S. help for granted. licly outline what he hopes
So far, though, Trump has to accomplish when he
yet to make any major visits Moscow and what is
steps as president to bring the basis for U.S. policy to-
Russia and the U.S. closer ward Russia,” said Heather
together. As a candidate, Conley at the Center for
Trump opened the door to Strategic and International
potentially rolling back the Studies. The prospect of
sanctions imposed on Rus- Washington and Moscow
sia after its annexation of teaming up, given Russia’s
Ukraine’s Crimea region in recent actions in Ukraine,
2014, a move Democrats has sent chills through
and Republicans in Con- much of Europe. Candi-
gress oppose. But as presi- date Trump exacerbated
dent, Trump has tamped concerns by calling NATO
down such suggestions as “obsolete” and suggested
long as Russia fails to live the U.S. might not defend
up to its various commit- allies if they aren’t paying
ments to end the fighting in enough for collective de-
Ukraine. fense. As president, Trump
His administration also has has insisted the U.S. is fully
resisted Russia’s calls to join committed to NATO.
forces against the Islamic Few are convinced.
State group in Syria, where Western diplomats and
the former Cold War foes some U.S. lawmakers ex-
have long backed oppos- pressed alarm Tuesday
ing sides in a civil war. The with Tillerson’s decision to
Pentagon is continuing only skip the upcoming NATO
what it calls U.S.-Russian meeting and travel shortly
“deconfliction” contacts, afterward to Russia. Some
designed to ensure their Europeans see the deci-
forces don’t accidentally sion as a U-turn from Vice
collide on Syria’s crowded President Mike Pence’s
battlefield and contested pledges about safeguard-
skies. ing the alliance in Munich
But Trump’s biggest road- last month.q