Trump broke Putin’s empire. Congress is handing it right back
Russia’s war in Ukraine accomplished something no American strategy could have engineered on its own: It hollowed out Moscow’s grip on its former empire. The White House noticed and moved. Congress still has not.
TL;DR
- Russia's war in Ukraine has weakened Moscow's influence in its former empire, creating an opening for U.S. strategy.
- The Trump administration has brokered deals, including a transit corridor across Armenia and significant commercial commitments from Central Asian nations.
- Outdated U.S. laws, the Jackson-Vanik amendment and Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act, prevent permanent normal trade relations with several countries.
- These laws, though waived annually, create an atmosphere of conditional goodwill and hinder long-term economic partnerships.
- Repealing these Soviet-era statutes is a priority for the administration and supported by bipartisan congressional sponsors.
- Failure to repeal these laws risks squandering a critical geopolitical opportunity as Russia's position weakens.