Voting 97 to 2 to approve a harsh new economic sanctions against Russia, the U.S. Senate has all but killed any attempt by President Donald Trump to reset U.S.-Russian relations. Yesterday’s senate vote says more about war hawks in the U.S. Senate led by Sen. John McCain (R-Az.) attempt to handcuff Trump from conducting U.S. Foreign Policy. Proving the point, the House and Senate approved bill specifically ties the hand to the president to ease punitive Russian sanctions, something Trump must get approved from Congress. Yesterday’s Senate bill violates Trump’s rights as Commander-in-Chief under Article 4, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution. Congress usurped Trump’s rights as Commander-in-Chief warranting Solicitor General Noel J. Francisco to bring the breach to the Supreme Court. Trump finds himself caught between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place.
If Trump vetoes the new sanctions bill, the Senate has the math to override a presidential veto. But whatever Trump does, he’s damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t. Signing the bill offers Trump no real political leverage because he’s essentially agreeing that Congress, as a co-equal branch of government, has the right to usurp his rights as Commander-in-Chief. Vetoing the bill would at least send a message to the Kremlin and European Union that the president disagrees with Congress, both in terms of Congressional overreach but, more importantly, because it harms U.S. national security. Instead of cultivating Russian President Vladimir Putin as an ally or at least working partner to deal with growing global threats, like North Korea, the Congress turns Putin into an enemy. Punishing Putin won’t twist the Kremlin’s arm to give back Crimea to or help contain North Korea’s nuke and ballistic missile program.
Putin delivered on his warning about retaliating for former President Barack Obama expelling Dec. 30, 2016 35 Russian diplomats and seizing property. Notifying the U.S. embassy in Moscow that they must reduce staff to 455 by Sept. 1, seizing U.S. properties, Putin delivered the retaliation promised after Congress voted in new of sanctions. U.S. Russian Amb. John Tefft “expressed his strong disappointment and protest “ over Putin’s retaliatory moves. Tefft has a beef with Congress that recklessly voted on more Russian sanctions knowing the consequences. With Russian hysteria at a fever’s pitch on Capitol Hill, Congress pressed ahead with more sanctions regardless of the consequences. Tefft should express his “disappointment and protest” with Congress not the Kremlin. Putin bent over backwards not retaliating after former President Barack Obama booted out 35 Russian diplomats last December.
European Union officials expressed dismay over Congress’ new Russian sanctions, raising the distinct possibility that the U.S. was trying to prevent EU companies from collaborating with Russia on energy firms. “Sanctions policies are neither suitable nor an appropriate instrument for promoting national export interests and the domestic energy sector,” said German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel. Gabriel believes that the new sanctions are really about the U.S. trying to muscle its way into European energy markets. Putin also sees the new sanctions as a way to interfere with Russia’s energy business in Europe. “It’s common knowledge that the Russian Federation has been doing everything in its power to improve bilateral relations, to encourage ties and cooperation with the U.S.,” said the Russian Foreign Ministry, finding no excuse for new sanctions.
Driving new Russian sanctions, McCain delivered Capitol Hill war hawks manifesto. “For too long, the message to Vladimir Putin has been that Russia can invade its neighbors, threaten U.S. allies, intensify its cyber-attacks, and interfere with foreign elections with very little repercussions,” said, McCain, essentially putting a muzzle on Trump as Commander-in-Chief. “Unless and until Russia pays a price for its actions, these destabilizing activities will continue,” referring to Russian interference in the 2016 election. Whatever happened in the election, McCain’s approach won’t reverse Russian influence around the globe, nor would it change what happened in 2016. Slapping more sanctions on Russia doesn’t reverse what happed in 2016, nor would it stop Russia’s future efforts to influence foreign governments. McCain’s approach could easily backfire, causing the U.S. more problems.
Whatever the U.S. shares in common with the Europe, it pales in comparison to the EU’s energy needs now dependant on Russia. Worried that U.S. sanctions would harm EU energy business with Russia, it shows that, whatever happened in 2016, the EU doesn’t want it interfering with the EU energy sales. “It is critically important that we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our European allies in countering Russian aggression,” said House Foreign Affairs Chairman Ed Royce (R-Calif.), completely out-of-touch with EU needs for Russian energy. Royce’s words rang hollow with EU officials after Trump pulled out June 1 of the Paris climate accords. Going overboard on sanctions, the Congress antagonized the EU and Russia, now busy retaliating against Obama’s aggressive actions last December. Trump faces a tough choice deciding whether or not to veto the bill or put his signature on new sanctions.
