Russia and the US Presidential Elections

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It was in 2016 when the people in the United States of America had enthusiastically cast their votes to elect a new president. Unexpectedly, Trump emerged as a winner and became the 45th president of America. Whatever has followed since then is not concealed from anyone. But, if anyone could recall, a controversy had hit the headlines soon afterward: It was alleged that Russia had meddled into the USA elections.  

The incident, quite unique in itself, was the first time that an external state, not a domestic actor, had interfered in the American democratic system. The issue was investigated, followed by the release of reports claiming that the offender had exploited the information and cyberspace landscapes to sow discontent and confusion in the country. An army of digital bots had been released on Twitter and Facebook to foment disorder and feed particular narratives to the people. Still more, traditional media outlets, hundreds of social media pages and blogs, and youtube channels were put in practice to mar the electoral process of a democratic country. 

However, many wonder how doing all this has helped Russia when Trump has not relieved the former of any sanctions or trade controls after all. In reality, it is less about what direct benefits Russia has achieved so far, but more about how Trump plays into its hands. For a moment, if one were to take a glance at the policies of the US president throughout his tenure, everything would be clear. Consider the US retrenchment, protectionism, and inward-looking policies. These all have been easing the path for Russia to regain its lost glory. As it would not have been that easier to snatch the leadership role from America directly, Russia hitherto favored setting Uncle Sam on a self-deteriorating trajectory.

Very skillfully, without letting anyone realize, Russia has gained whatever it had intended for by adulterating the US elections. In fact, it has secured even more. The leadership of the USA is waning at a break-neck pace not ever experienced before. What happens next, whether the USA would find itself only a power among other great powers or retain its liberal hegemony, is yet to be seen. The upcoming US elections will be decisive in this regard!

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