WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump brokers a Russia-Ukraine peace deal in February 2025, aiming to pull Moscow closer and isolate China. This shift, evident today, March 02, 2025, extends America’s long campaign to curb Beijing’s rise by fracturing its alliance with Russia.
The U.S. Shifts Gears with Russia
Trump finalizes peace talks in Istanbul, ending the Ukraine war and warming U.S.-Russia ties. This move seeks to counter China’s growing power. Since Obama’s Pivot to Asia in 2011, America targets Beijing as its top rival. “The White House and its China super hawks seem to believe that they can work with Russia to isolate China from the world and damage its increasing global presence,” writes the Council on Foreign Relations on February 19, 2025. The strategy marks a clear break from past U.S. efforts against Russia.
Historical Precedent: Nixon’s Play in Reverse
President Richard Nixon visits China in 1972, splitting it from the Soviet Union to weaken Moscow. Trump now reverses this approach. “The quick upending of U.S.-Russia ties has led some experts to speculate whether Trump is attempting to pull off a ‘reverse Nixon,’” reports The Washington Post on February 25, 2025. By praising Putin and criticizing Ukraine, Trump positions Russia as an ally against China.
The historical echo highlights America’s pattern of shifting alliances for advantage. Nixon weakens the Soviets; Trump focuses on China.
The China Containment Legacy
Obama’s Pivot to Asia launches in 2011, redirecting U.S. focus to counter China’s rise. Trump builds on this with trade wars and military moves. “Trump aims to ‘pull Russia away from China’ as Nixon once separated China from the Soviet Union,” states Newsweek on February 27, 2025. The Ukraine peace deal reduces Russia’s reliance on Beijing, aligning with decades of containment efforts.
Trump’s Russia Outreach Gains Steam
Trump meets Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and pushes for sanctions relief, per Reuters on February 20, 2025. Secretary of State Marco Rubio drives this shift, noting Russia’s dependence on China. “Russia чересчур зависит от Китая [Russia overly relies on China],” Rubio says, prompting a response from China’s Foreign Ministry, reported by russian.news.cn on February 27, 2025. The U.S. sees Russia’s economic struggles as a chance to draw it westward.
This sacrifices Ukraine’s Western role to prioritize isolating China. The Outreach signals a bold recalibration.
China’s Defiant Response
China stands firm. “Попытки США вбить клин между Китаем и Россией обречены на провал [U.S. attempts to drive a wedge between China and Russia are doomed to fail],” declares Lin Jian, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, on February 27, 2025, via russian.news.cn. Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets Lavrov, and Putin calls China a “true friend,” per The Washington Post. Yet, Rubio’s comments reveal U.S. hopes to exploit Russia’s ties to Beijing.
The Ukraine War as a Bargaining Chip
The U.S. once supports Ukraine to weaken Russia, then flips to peace under Trump. “U.S. aims to ‘peel Russia off of China,’” says Secretary of State Marco Rubio, cited by X user @tonychinaupdate on February 26, 2025. The Istanbul deal eases Russia’s burden, cutting its need for Chinese aid. This targets the China-Russia “DragonBear Alliance.”
Analysts note this weakens Beijing’s strategic stance. Read more How Washington Started the New Cold War with Russia and the Catastrophe in Ukraine Ukraine conflict history.
Russia’s Temptation and China’s Vulnerability
Russia faces a decision. Trump offers trade and energy deals, tempting a sanctions-hit nation. “The U.S. shift [is] seen as an attempt to peel Russia away from Beijing,” reports South China Morning Post on February 22, 2025. China risks losing a vital ally, facing U.S. pressure alone.
America’s Wedge Strategy Laid Bare
Trump’s actions expose a U.S. plan: isolate China by splitting it from Russia. “U.S. attempts to put a wedge between Moscow and Beijing are ‘doomed to fail,’” counters a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on February 27, 2025. Yet, America presses on, using the Ukraine deal to shift power dynamics. This builds on Nixon and Obama legacies, revealing a pattern of manipulation.
For U.S.-China tensions, see Council on Foreign Relations analysis.
