Biden-Putin: Simple summit or combined with history?

These meetings are like the face-to-face meetings between Russian and American leaders beyond the exact moment they take place. They echo the summits that changed the course of history, and bear the consequences that are often felt only after the fact. Hence the lure of Tate-e-Tate Biden-Putin since Wednesday.

The White House has been emphasizing in recent weeks the importance of the early stages of President Biden’s first foreign trip. Undoubtedly, the G7 summit in the UK addressed serious issues: the fight against epidemics, the global vaccine, or the global economic recovery.

It will not be any lighter Monday at the NATO summit in Brussels, where Joe Biden is expected to reaffirm US commitment to a major military alliance, Atlantic security and joint security. The next day at the US / EU summit the same busy agenda, according to the Presidential Committee, the leaders will discuss strengthening democracy and digital cooperation with others.

Anyway, we’re back on earth: as serious exchanges appear, one has to hear sighs of relief, and after four turbulent years with Donald Trump, one has to look at the smile that was complicit in the G7, and it’s time to understand that everyone is the same length these days. ‘Wave.

On Wednesday, the “fun” begins

After the official photo of the leaders, there was no more disagreement between state leaders and heads of state than there was between Emmanuel Macron and Joe Biden on Friday. One more surprise since the two had never seen each other in person before.

President Biden, we are told at the White House, only wants “more stable and predictable” diplomatic relations with Russia. If Biden had not condemned Vladimir Putin “a killer” earlier this year, we would have carried it out.

Joe Biden said two big mistakes should be avoided. First, Donald Trump rejected his intelligence decisions and took it when the Kremlin chief promised not to interfere in the 2016 US presidential election.

Failed to reset

To this day, Trump is angry that it is doubtful he had fun with the Russian president during his presidency. The Helsinki Conference in June 2018 did not help his cause.

The US president should avoid attempting a “reset” like then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in March 2009. The arena – a button to press – delighted the Russians, especially the word in the Cyrillic alphabet above due to a typo, but ultimately made little impact.

Until cyber attacks and the disruption of Russian operations in Ukraine, human rights abuses and interference in Western democracies – Washington’s list of grievances against Moscow is long – and Joe Biden does not want to be straightforward, as he seems insensitive to Vladimir Putin’s pressure and international sanctions. Ready for sparks!