Britain, France, and Germany are rightly preparing sanctions over Russia’s Aug. 20 poisoning of investigative journalist and opposition politician Alexei Navalny. The Trump administration, however, is remaining silent.
Silent, at least, in terms of taking action over Vladimir Putin’s breach of the Chemical Weapons Convention. While both President Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have raised concerns over Navlany’s poisoning, neither has given reason to think that the United States will join the European sanctions effort. It’s a serious mistake.
What happened to Navalny is not simply a matter of Russian political intrigue. It is an affront to a fundamental tenet of the U.S.-led liberal international order. To be specific, the interest in deterring the use of highly lethal chemical weapons against civilian targets. But that’s exactly what Putin did to Navalny. Only Putin can authorize the use of the Novichok-class nerve agent which nearly killed Navalny. Making matters worse, this is the second time in three years that Putin has employed Novichok-class agents against his enemies. The Russian leader is in patent breach of the Chemical Weapons Convention and requires riposte.
Were Trump leading on this issue, Washington might even be able to persuade the Europeans to abandon Putin’s critical Nord Stream II energy pipeline. Trump has often criticized that pipeline, and its closure would serve Putin a compelling rationale against his future use of chemical weapons. Instead, it appears that Trump is preventing U.S. action. Why?
Well, I’d bet it’s because the president is seeking a new nuclear arms accord with Putin. Theorizing that he might lose the November election, Trump might also believe that he cannot afford to alienate the Russian leader. That were he to support the imposition of Navalny related sanctions, Trump might jeopardize a legacy nuclear deal. That’s the only credible rationale I can see motivating Trump here. His rhetoric aside, Trump’s policy towards Moscow gives no indication that he is being blackmailed by Putin.
Regardless, Trump should reassess his position.
There is nothing Putin loves more than his perception that someone has a weakness or hesitation he can exploit. Such was the case with Putin’s attitude toward President Barack Obama and his summer 2016 decision to continue targeting the U.S. election. A nuclear arms control agreement with Putin is both possible and preferable. But it cannot come at the expense of other critical American interests. A line must be drawn over what Russia has done to Navalny. Trump should join the Europeans and impose sanctions on the Kremlin.
