By Sardar Khan NiaziDonald Trump’s recurring call to normalize relations with Russia has once again stirred debate in Washington and beyond. He has long viewed geopolitics less as a contest of values and more as a negotiation among strong states. From this perspective, a permanent confrontation with Russia is costly, distracts from domestic priorities, and pushes Moscow closer to Beijing. Normalization, Trump suggests, could reduce the risk of great-power conflict, open space for arms control, and allow the United States to concentrate on economic competition, particularly with China. Ultimately, the question is not whether the United States should talk to Russia — it should — but on what terms.

Source: The Patriot December 18, 2025 23:33 UTC