The first data on the elections in the United States appeared, and it, as expected, is multidirectional
Paradoxically, today, in the same way, Russia and America are in a certain antiphase: when Russia celebrates national unity, and quite rightly, the United States is split more than ever. In New York and Washington, shopkeepers have already boarded them up with plywood boards for fear of protests. Barriers have been set up along the perimeter of the White House in the American capital. These are only outward signs of a split in society in the United States, but the essence of the situation is that this is not only America’s problem.
Of course, many in this world have different preferences in the presidential elections in the United States, but Russia stands somewhat apart in this regard. Since the last elections in 2016, the topic of some Russian interference in them, which has not yet been convincingly proven, but sufficient for permanent attacks on the winner of the last presidential race, has remained at the center of American realities. However, it seems that the external factor may not play the same role this time as it did last time.
The acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolfe has already said that authorities have found no evidence of external vote manipulation in the US presidential election. This means that any winner or loser in the presidential race will be forced to talk about purely internal reasons for the corresponding election outcome, and this is a completely different story, much closer to reality.
When President Donald Trump was asked in an interview: “Which country is the most difficult to do business with. With Russia? With China? With North Korea?”, he answered: “Of course, the most difficult thing is with the United States, others are not even close”.
Let me remind you that according to some estimates, a record number of voters will take part in the elections this year – 150 million or even more, the turnout in the elections may be the highest since 1908, when 65 percent of the country’s residents who have the right to vote voted.
Of course, the presidential elections for the last superpower will affect many processes in the world. That is why they are so watched, for example, in Europe. Where they hardly hide their preferences in favor of a more transatlantic structure-oriented democrat.
For us, of course, the main question is what will change in the Russian direction.
And here options are possible. If the factor of alleged Russian interference, central to American domestic politics, is gone, other topics will become more important for any US president. In some ways, the topic of China will be more important, or less – Iran, but be that as it may – not only obsession with Russia.
Finally, let’s not forget that in recent years the White House’s policy towards Russia has been based not so much on the president’s policies as on the mood in Congress. Will preferences change there? On Tuesday, among other things, the fate of 35 of the 100 seats in the Senate is determined, and this will affect the foreign policy of any US president.
But much would have changed if the congressmen realized that Russia is not the source of the current problems of the United States. And this is a lot, because even on this statement one can build relationships with any administration of the White House. I would say that we benefit from any certainty in which the losers do not need to resort to the factor of external interference. It’s time for America to return to a sane policy, in which we will always support it. We are longing.
Konstantin Kosachev