From Russia, With Love
Over the strenuous objections of NATO, the United States and European Union, Turkey takes delivery of an advanced Russian missile system.
When then-Presidential candidate and moderate Republican Mitt Romney was asked during a 2012 debate what he considered would be America’s number one geopolitical threat over the next decade, he answered Russia.
Everyone made fun of him.
President Barack Obama, who was running for reelection against a challenge from Romney at the time, lead the chorus of derisive laughter. After Romney’s surprising answer, Obama famously quipped back, “The 80’s are calling, they want their foreign policy back.”
Democratic-leaning pundits and fans of the incumbent President, of which there were many, soon joined the chorus. Romney’s grasp of foreign policy was a running joke; Romney himself, the punchline.
Fast forward a scant few years later, and Russia has emerged, just as Romney predicted, as the number one geopolitical foe facing the U.S. and American interests abroad.
In spite of early indications that the two leaders liked each other and might work well together to deepen ties between the two world powers, Russia President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump have not been able to develop a serious rapport.