Syria, Ukraine, alleged Russian meddling in the US election: there are a host of contentious foreign policy issues facing Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin as they meet for the first time Friday at the G20 summit.
The encounter comes as ties between the two superpowers have hit a new low, far from the promise of better times pledged by Trump during his US presidential campaign.
- The Syrian standoff -
On opposite sides over the conflict in Syria, Trump infuriated Moscow by ordering a cruise missile strike on Syrian forces in April in retaliation for what Washington said was a chemical attack on civilians by Bashar al-Assad's regime.
At the time, the US president said it was "certainly possible" that Moscow knew about the alleged chemical attack and described Assad as a "butcher" and an "animal".
He described ties with Russia as possibly at "an all time low".
Adding fuel to the fire, the US air force on June 18 shot down a Syrian regime warplane in a move denounced by Russia as "an act of aggression".
Washington is also concerned about the growing rivalry between Kurdish and Arab fighters and the Syrian army as the battle rages to retake the northern city of Raqa from Islamic State group jihadists.
Nevertheless, Trump -- who has made the fight against IS a top priority -- could try and seek common ground with Moscow before moving towards a de-escalation in Syria.
- Russia and the US election -
The promise of a fresh start to the relationship has been eclipsed by allegations of collusion between Russia and members of Trump's election campaign team.
US intelligence agencies suspect Putin orchestrated a sweeping campaign to tilt the November vote in Trump's favour, prompting several investigations, including one led by the FBI.
Trump has vigorously denied all such allegations.
Speaking in Warsaw on Thursday, Trump acknowledged that Moscow "may have" tried to influence the 2016 election that brought him to power, but suggested other countries may also have been involved.
In January, the US intelligence community said it had concluded Russia did interfere in the vote and that the Russian president himself ordered a campaign to harm Hillary Clinton's electability in order to help Trump win.
- Ukraine and sanctions -
In March, Washington hit out at Moscow's "aggression" against Kiev in reference to Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimea and its involvement with pro-Russian rebels fighting Ukrainian troops in the east of the country.
On June 20, the US administration beefed up its trade sanctions against Russia over Ukraine, prompting Moscow to denounce Washington's "Russophobe obsession".
Kiev and the West accuse Moscow of orchestrating the conflict and of smuggling weapons and troops across the border, but Russia denies the allegations.
On Thursday, Putin attacked the sanctions in an editorial in a German newspaper, saying they were "not just short-sighted but go against the principles of the G20 for cooperation in the interests of all countries".
On the same day, Trump fired a rare salvo of criticism at Russia, without mentioning Putin specifically, denouncing Moscow for its "destabilising activities in Ukraine" as well as its support for hostile regimes.
- North Korea's missile test -
Just days before the summit, North Korea successfully tested an intercontinental ballistic missile, prompting a sharp warning from Trump who said he was considering a "pretty severe" and tougher sanctions.
But here too, there are sharp divisions over how to handle Pyongyang, with Moscow blocking a UN Security Council statement calling for a "significant" response to the missile test.
- NATO tensions -
Moscow views any expansion of the NATO military alliance as a sign of aggression and has repeatedly denounced a build-up of troops in the Baltic region as upsetting the balance of power.
It has denied any territorial ambitions and said the build-up demonstrates a desire to contain Russia.
But at a NATO summit in Brussels at the end of May, Trump urged the alliance to put a greater focus on "threats from Russia".
Syria, Ukraine, alleged Russian meddling in the US election: there are a host of contentious foreign policy issues facing Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin as they meet for the first time Friday at the G20 summit.
The encounter comes as ties between the two superpowers have hit a new low, far from the promise of better times pledged by Trump during his US presidential campaign.
– The Syrian standoff –
On opposite sides over the conflict in Syria, Trump infuriated Moscow by ordering a cruise missile strike on Syrian forces in April in retaliation for what Washington said was a chemical attack on civilians by Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
At the time, the US president said it was “certainly possible” that Moscow knew about the alleged chemical attack and described Assad as a “butcher” and an “animal”.
He described ties with Russia as possibly at “an all time low”.
Adding fuel to the fire, the US air force on June 18 shot down a Syrian regime warplane in a move denounced by Russia as “an act of aggression”.
Washington is also concerned about the growing rivalry between Kurdish and Arab fighters and the Syrian army as the battle rages to retake the northern city of Raqa from Islamic State group jihadists.
Nevertheless, Trump — who has made the fight against IS a top priority — could try and seek common ground with Moscow before moving towards a de-escalation in Syria.
– Russia and the US election –
The promise of a fresh start to the relationship has been eclipsed by allegations of collusion between Russia and members of Trump’s election campaign team.
US intelligence agencies suspect Putin orchestrated a sweeping campaign to tilt the November vote in Trump’s favour, prompting several investigations, including one led by the FBI.
Trump has vigorously denied all such allegations.
Speaking in Warsaw on Thursday, Trump acknowledged that Moscow “may have” tried to influence the 2016 election that brought him to power, but suggested other countries may also have been involved.
In January, the US intelligence community said it had concluded Russia did interfere in the vote and that the Russian president himself ordered a campaign to harm Hillary Clinton’s electability in order to help Trump win.
– Ukraine and sanctions –
In March, Washington hit out at Moscow’s “aggression” against Kiev in reference to Russia’s 2014 annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea and its involvement with pro-Russian rebels fighting Ukrainian troops in the east of the country.
On June 20, the US administration beefed up its trade sanctions against Russia over Ukraine, prompting Moscow to denounce Washington’s “Russophobe obsession”.
Kiev and the West accuse Moscow of orchestrating the conflict and of smuggling weapons and troops across the border, but Russia denies the allegations.
On Thursday, Putin attacked the sanctions in an editorial in a German newspaper, saying they were “not just short-sighted but go against the principles of the G20 for cooperation in the interests of all countries”.
On the same day, Trump fired a rare salvo of criticism at Russia, without mentioning Putin specifically, denouncing Moscow for its “destabilising activities in Ukraine” as well as its support for hostile regimes.
– North Korea’s missile test –
Just days before the summit, North Korea successfully tested an intercontinental ballistic missile, prompting a sharp warning from Trump who said he was considering a “pretty severe” and tougher sanctions.
But here too, there are sharp divisions over how to handle Pyongyang, with Moscow blocking a UN Security Council statement calling for a “significant” response to the missile test.
– NATO tensions –
Moscow views any expansion of the NATO military alliance as a sign of aggression and has repeatedly denounced a build-up of troops in the Baltic region as upsetting the balance of power.
It has denied any territorial ambitions and said the build-up demonstrates a desire to contain Russia.
But at a NATO summit in Brussels at the end of May, Trump urged the alliance to put a greater focus on “threats from Russia”.
