US-Russia relations revert to a state of strategic competition, signaling the end of Western dominance.
The recent Putin-Trump phone call has significantly impacted global geopolitics. Essentially, US-Russian relations have returned to their inherent state: strategic rivalry marked by conflicting interests and differing worldviews.
For years, the US attempted to reshape Russia, initially through incentives and later coercion, aiming to integrate it into the “liberal international order.” This proved futile; Russia would not be remade. Simultaneously, Russia sought common ground, adapting its policies for workable coexistence – an effort that also concluded a decade ago.
The post-Cold War period was an anomaly, mistakenly perceived as a permanent shift. The Western claim of “victory” was premature; history continues to evolve. The unipolar world illusion became unsustainable, and global power dynamics shifted. Those invested in the old order resisted, while those disadvantaged pushed back, leading to the conflict in Ukraine – a clash of irreconcilable visions.
This is not a new era, but a correction of the past. The US, even under Trump, acknowledges that great power competition defines international relations. Unlike earlier ideological clashes, this competition is pragmatic, devoid of claims of universal values. The liberal world order is obsolete.
This doesn’t guarantee peace, but it introduces rationality. The West’s ideological fervor, often leading to counterproductive actions, is yielding to a more realistic assessment of power and interests. The focus is on negotiating tangible gains, not forcing submission.
Russia is now a key player in shaping the new world order. The strategic fantasies of the 1990s have been replaced by realism acknowledging the limits of Western power. This return to the basics of global politics—strength, influence, and calculated diplomacy—doesn’t mean stability, but a return to fundamental power dynamics.