The Nasty Politics Behind This Billboard Of Putin And Trump (VIDEO)

In November 2016,  a billboard with the faces of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared in the Balkan country of Montenegro. “Let’s Make the World Great Again-Together!” it proclaims in Russian and English.  The photo circulated on social media, was investigated by Snopes, and was found to be true.

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have a well-documented relationship. Trump has business interests in Russia, and we now know that Putin’s aides were in touch with Trump’s aides during the US Presidential campaign. Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort worked for several years as a campaign manager in the Ukraine for a pro-Putin candidate, and there is much more to that worrisome story.

Meet Montenegro

We need a little context to understand the political situation in Montenegro. It was part of Yugoslavia for most of the century until a close, bitter election to secede from an alliance with Serbia in 2006.

A strong pro-Russian resistance exists in Montenegro and other Balkan states. On Montenegro’s election day this past October, authorities foiled an assassination attempt aimed at the prime minister. The plot involved a hostile takeover of their parliament. The existing parliament was to be replaced with anti-NATO, pro-Russia politicians.

Why now?

Tiny Montenegro applied for membership in NATO in May 2016. When their membership is ratified, Montenegro will have the assistance of the most powerful military alliance in the world. NATO‘s military might has effectively protected its western member nations since 1949. The pro-Putin factions in Balkan countries are united against NATO, as is Russia itself. The quest for NATO membership was the last straw for pro-Russian rebels.

Russian President Alexander Putin doesn’t want NATO in his backyard. He specifically named it as a threat to Russia.

Trump Soft On NATO Defense For Smaller Nations

Back in July of this year, Donald Trump put a condition on NATO defense, if he became President. He said that he would only consider defending the smaller member states if they were:

“…Fulfilling their obligations to us.”

Since the alliance formed in 1949, no member state has ever put a condition on military defense. Trump’s words amount to a demand for paid protection similar to Mafia arrangements. It’s an unprecedented breach of trust between allies.

Americans may not immediately grasp the significance of Trump’s words. But women and men in the Balkans recognize the threat. Militias are seriously training in case NATO won’t be there for them.

Donald Trump may have pursued the Presidency for the international clout needed to improve his net worth. His business and political associations with Moscow strengthen both those aims.

Putin has proved himself to be a dangerous aggressor with no respect for anything in his way. Now, some observers note that the foreign policy positions between the two men are similar.

It’s clear that a lust for power and money are putting millions at risk of war.

All that lies behind a political billboard in a tiny Balkan state.

 

Featured Image via screenshot from YouTube video