NATO, RUSSIA, AND THE WARSAW PACT
equivalent to Belgium and a declin- ing population — is not capable of restoring the Soviet Union or his romanticized view of the Russian state of 1,000 years ago. The Russian leader is aggrieved
about the current U.S.-dominated world order. A westernized Ukraine that became a NATO member would extend this order into a his- torical Russian sphere of influence and spread unwelcome ideas into Russia. Putin may believe he can use
military force and threats to change the security dynamics of Europe and possibly reclaim parts of the former Soviet Union. He also prob- ably wants to defend and expand the Russian sphere of influence. President Trump believed it was better to positively engage Putin
rather than constantly isolate him and treat him as an enemy. It is very clear that President
Biden does not understand this and that his constant ultimatums and red lines encouraged his belligerent behavior. Another important concern is
the significant improvement in Russia-China relations. They have grown closer over the last decade because of their shared dislike of a U.S.-dominated world order and growing economic and military relationships. Putin and Chinese President Xi
Jinping met at the Winter Olympics in Beijing and declared there were no limits to their strategic partner- ship. Xi added that he backed Rus- sia’s demand to stop the expansion of NATO.
Perhaps with an eye to its
own ambitions in Taiwan, China refused to call the Russian attack on Ukraine an invasion and tried to put the blame for the hostilities on the U.S. for provoking Moscow and creating “fear and panic.” Biden must make it clear
that NATO will not tolerate any encroachment by Russian forces on its member nations. The Ukraine crisis also indicates
the need for a more sophisticated U.S. policy that can address Rus- sian belligerence and grievances without making the security situa- tion worse. U.S. sanctions and red lines are
unlikely to change Putin’s behavior; they probably will embolden Putin and cause the Russia-China rela- tionship to to grow. The foreign policy challenges
today, from Iran, China, and Rus- sia, require sophisticated strategy and great minds like James Baker, John Foster Dulles, and Mike Pom- peo. Regrettably, the president does
not have anyone like this in his administration and is surround- ed by incompetent foreign policy advisers. The 2024 presidential election cannot come soon enough.
Fred Fleitz is a Newsmax TV contributor and vice chair of the America First Policy Institute Center for American Security.
58 NEWSMAX | APRIL 2022
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