Trump on path of 'triangular diplomacy' with Russia and China

THE new Donald Trump administration is replaying President Richard Nixon's "Triangular Diplomacy" strategy between the United States, Russia and China. Mr Nixon had normalised relations with Beijing in the 1970s while simultaneously pressurising Moscow in order to achieve US foreign policy goals. Mr Trump is doing just the opposite - he is befriending Russia and challenging China.

Mr Trump launched a new diplomatic offensive with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Jan 28, when they had an hour-long phone conversation in a mood of almost unprecedented warmth and cordiality, with both leaders promising to improve bilateral relations after nearly three years of bitter confrontation that raised fears of a new Cold War.

The two leaders signalled a new start by making only a passing mention of the rift in US-Russia relations caused by Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, in a troubling signal that the Trump administration would condone the Russian military intervention despite the fact that it breached international law.