/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/prisa/NWWZ2CDZ5JGFLIBE3N3DIUL3TA.jpg)
Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin, this Wednesday in Geneva.
More information
Putin and Biden open the way to a rapprochement without overcoming mistrust
The meeting between the presidents of the United States and Russia, Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin, held yesterday in Geneva, opens a new perspective on the relationship between the two powers after a phase of tension and deterioration. It would be naive to expect substantial improvement and strategic changes, but the meeting represents a welcome turning point. In the first place, the return of the US and Russian ambassadors to their respective legations was agreed, which represents a symbolic gesture of diplomatic normalization; secondly, the willingness to open new negotiations to improve the framework for the control of nuclear weapons, an area of enormous importance; The opening of communication channels in cybersecurity to interact in the fight against certain types of crime can also be reviewed.Neither of these measures alters the profound disagreement between the two powers, but the establishment of frameworks for dialogue fosters predictability and clarity of relations, an important element. This is an intelligent way of understanding international relations that facilitates stability and that had been blown up in recent years between Putin's unscrupulous actions and Trump's heterodox presidency in the White House.This is an intelligent way of understanding international relations that facilitates stability and that had been blown up in recent years between Putin's unscrupulous actions and Trump's heterodox presidency in the White House.This is an intelligent way of understanding international relations that facilitates stability and that had been blown up in recent years between Putin's unscrupulous actions and Trump's heterodox presidency in the White House.
The attempt to establish a new framework for dialogue did not involve Biden appeasing. The US president issued several strong warnings, including the importance given to cybersecurity. The list of 16 types of strategic infrastructures provided to its Russian counterpart and the notice that the United States will respond in the event of a cyber attack - as well as in electoral processes - have made clear a new red line between Washington and Moscow , who has always denied being behind these actions. Biden's message on this matter has been unequivocal. Nor did the US leader walk around the bush regarding the situation of the Russian opposition and especially that of the jailed leader Alexei Navalni, warning of "devastating consequences for Russia" should he pass away.Biden's approach to defending human rights and democratic values is correct, but his real room for maneuver is very slim.
The White House is correct in its attempt to combine an unusual harshness and clarity regarding Moscow's policy with a pragmatic openness to face-to-face dialogue. It should be noted that Biden has met Putin only after previously meeting with European allies in economic and defense terms. In this also the differences with its predecessor are enormous.
Russia is a power with great strategic resources - military, energy, geographical - but in evident difficulty for economic, demographic and political reasons. Putin has long chosen to sustain the power profile through unscrupulous and surprising actions. While China is the great challenge for the West in this century, Moscow can bring enormous challenges and problems. One of the ways to limit risks is to create frameworks of understanding and predictability. This is what, rightly, Biden has tried to do in Geneva.
