×

Vladimir Putin is a dangerous adversary

President-elect Trump must deal with him with the utmost caution

Let us hope President-elect Donald Trump’s interaction with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on business deals has not blinded him to the very different way in which the Kremlin handles diplomacy. Lavish receptions, posh accommodations, gracious words and even state awards for business partners might lead some people to believe they are dealing with nice guys.

Putin and company are not nice guys.

Trump was upset this recently about reports U.S. intelligence agencies had told him the Russian government has collected “compromising” personal and financial information about him. “It’s all fake news, it’s phony stuff, it didn’t happen,” Trump told reporters.

Referring to the relationship between the two men, Trump said this: “If Putin likes Donald Trump, guess what folks? That’s called an asset, not a liability.”

That certainly is true. Good relationships among leaders of nations, even when their countries’ interests conflict, are better than personal dislike.

But to imagine the Russians are not trying to collect unflattering information about Trump would be an enormous mistake. Of course they are.

Trump appears to be learning. To his other comment this week, he added this: “I don’t know whether I’m going to get along with Vladimir Putin. I hope I do, but there’s a good chance I won’t.”

Don’t hold out any hope, Mr. President-elect. Remember, you are dealing with a man who does not use a checkbook to bring people around to his way of thinking. You are facing off against a fellow who uses, instead, the Russian Army and nuclear missiles.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today