Plutocrats of a feather flock together

PLUTOCRATS OF A FEATHER

Writing from Europe, how will the relationship between the EU and the US evolve once Trump is sworn in?

The answer is probably "wait-'n-see". Putin is Trump's best friend here, and Moscow is barely in Europe geographically whilst the rest of Russia isn't. What Trump will do - if Putin restarts the war in the eastern provinces of the Ukraine - is anybody's guess. (Probably send a "Good Luck!" card?)

I suspect that Europe will start detaching itself more and more from the US - militarily and economically. The Replicants will not allow the US to even negotiate a TTIP trade-treaty. It will hang-up on agriculture. (Europe allows practically none of the quick-weight food chemical-additives that pen-fed cattle in the US engorge.)

In terms of Industrial Trade, there will be no change. Airbus and Boeing are the two major providers of commercial transport aircraft, and nothing will change that stand-off. Neither will there be any diminishing of trade between the two countries. Business is business, and welcome anywhere a company can get it.

Most of Europe's gas comes across the eastern part of the EU from Russia. So, Russia will do nothing to make sure that supply is interrupted - it needs the revenue from gas/oil exports. Badly. (Putin is learning the hardway the gas/petroleum prices go down as well as up.)

So much for the economic relations between the three principal countries (US, EU & Russia). As regards defense, and particularly the Middle-east, Obama had reneged on an initial plan to "physically invade" Syria and defeat ISIS. The French were prepared to also contribute ground troops. (In addition to the air-strikes that the two countries have been performing for quite some time - and are proving key in retaking Mosul in Iraq.)

Because of previous realty affairs with Russia, Trump may not try to involve the US in the taking of Raqqa (Syria). Where the ISIS is headquartered. That would contravene Russian interests at present as regards Assad. (See more on Trump's "Russian interests" below.)

(Besides, there are already American troopers dying in Iraq fighting alongside the Kurds.)

All that may be past-tense however. Who knows what Trump would do about the Middle-east? I doubt he could find Syria on a map if asked to do so. But, like Dubya, he could decide to invade Syria if ISIS would pull-off a major attack in the US. (And, knowing, ISIS, if it gets that desperate, it's "caliph" (al Baghdadi) WILL attempt a suicide attack somewhere on US soil.)

One thing is for sure - Trump's son (now running the Trump family's real-estate group) will attend with his father Trump's first visit to Moscow. (His daughter is also married to a New Jersey real-estate magnate.) Business is business, so expect that early next year.

Trump had tried two years ago to propose real-estate projects in Moscow, but Putin was not receptive. There are rumours that Trump tried to get a direct meeting with Putin, but could not pull it off.

I'll bet Putin is receptive now to "better relations" with the US. Some people will see that as a "good thing".

Afterall, plutocrats of a feather flock together ...