Sino-Russian Relations in the Trump Era : An Uneven Partnership

On August 2, 2019, the United States blocked all lending to Russia from international financial institutions (IFIs) , prohibited US banks from buying Russian sovereign bonds and limited lending to Russia.Additional restrictions on the US exports to Russia were introduced as well.Observers were surprised at the sanctions' timing "in the absence of new developments" and claimed it was "hard to defend such sanctions against a Russia largely void of any new foul play." 1) Even so, the U.S. Senate, acting on behalf of vested interests in the U.S. petroleum industry, has intensified discussions about sanctioning the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline between Russia and Germany.Everyone understands that the only real motive behind such moves is the desire to "reduce ［the］ market share of Russian oil and gas in Europe, a market the U.S. would love to capture." 2) Less than a week after the new round of sanctions was announced, the US Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman tended his resignation.The Ambassador's departure came on the heels of the earlier announced replacement of Fiona Hill, the National Security Council Senior Director for Europe and Russia.With these two moves, Trump's administration appeared visibly unable to recruit or retain talent in Russia-related jobs.Even as wild rotation of the U.S. top officials under Trump became his signature style, the loss of the two top experts on Russia politics within a 1) K. Rapoza, Russia's latest sanctions a year in the making but surprise everyone.Forbes.com,Aug 2, 2019, https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/