Staff Reports
The current geopolitical game has taken an interesting turn, and Vladimir Putin seems to be playing checkers while the rest of the world is stuck on chess. Recent events have illustrated that, while many worry about NATO’s so-called aggression, the real threat looming over Russia is an old adversary: China. Those overlooking this reality are like people arguing over the best way to plant a garden while a wildfire bears down on them.
Putin hasn’t lost sleep over NATO’s expansion; actually, he’s probably chuckling to himself. The alliance is filled with leaders who would rather appease every special interest group under the sun than actually get serious about defending their nations. The European leaders fall all over themselves to show how politically correct they can be while ignoring the fact that their own citizens are getting less safe under their watch. Meanwhile, Putin is free to pursue his dreams of territorial expansion while chuckling at Western leaders frantically passing around “Feel Good” pamphlets.
A Carrot for Putin https://t.co/Xn7mRMh5QF
— Michael J. Fell (@MichaelJFell) February 23, 2025
The real kicker is that while Putin is preoccupied with Ukraine, China is busy scheming to absorb Russia’s Far East. The demographic shift in this region speaks volumes, with the ethnic Russian population dwindling as Chinese immigrants effectively take over. It seems that Putin has unwittingly set the stage for a geopolitical coup that has been decades in the making. Russia’s policies, which are little more than a feeble attempt to slow this tide, are akin to putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound.
And while Russia finds itself tangled in a power play with Ukraine, China has been quietly tightening its grip on former Soviet republics in Central Asia. Countries like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are swapping independence for financial dependency courtesy of Chinese investments. This might make for comfy diplomatic dinners, but it means that as China spreads its influence, Russia is losing its grip on a once-formidable sphere of influence. If this continues, one has to wonder if the Russian government will ever find the backbone to push back against their neighbor’s ambitions.
Now, here comes the real question: could Donald Trump, in a bid for a deal like he did with North Korea, turn this situation around? The idea is not entirely far-fetched. If anyone has the audacity to dangle the right “carrot” in front of Putin without giving away the farm, it’s Trump. Instead of treating the situation as just a political chess match, he could redefine the parameters and aim for a Russo-American alliance that acknowledges the looming threat from China. There’s potential for a mutually beneficial understanding here, one that could leave both countries feeling a little less tense about their geopolitical futures.
In a fantasy land where Putin decides that he values stability over his petty grievances with the West, this could actually work. However, trusting Putin to play nice is like trusting a child with a box of chocolates; it usually ends up messy. But if some creative diplomacy could lead to a Russian pivot away from China, that would be one for the history books. Over time, perhaps Russia could reinvent itself, dropping the totalitarian nonsense as it begins to align more closely with the West. Little would please average Americans more than seeing Putin’s influence clippered down a bit as China continues its relentless march towards dominance. Hence, if Trump can successfully charm Putin and eliminate the golden throne that is China, the world might witness a geopolitical shake-up of epic proportions.
