Biden adopts play-it-cool strategy with Putin
By Amie Parnes and Brett Samuels - 03/01/22 06:01 AM EST
President Biden is taking a play-it-cool strategy with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
When Putin called for putting Russia’s deterrence forces — which includes nuclear weapons — on high alert, Biden chose not to respond in kind, avoiding any action Russia might portray as a show of aggression against it.
He has also given his European counterparts the space they need on sanctions announcements, including those related to SWIFT, the main system for global transactions, instead of suggesting or showing that they’re following his lead.
The effort is getting praise from Democrats and comes at a time when Biden is struggling with low approval ratings that have put his party on edge over the fall midterm elections.
“This feels like the most comfortable Joe Biden has been in his presidency, being a quasi-wartime president,” said Democratic strategist Joel Payne. “This is Joe Biden in his natural element. The former Senate Foreign Relations chair, working his relationships and bringing people along.”
Foreign policy observers — including those critical of Biden’s messy troop withdrawal from Afghanistan last year — say the president’s measured strategy and response toward Russia has been on the mark.
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https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/596229-biden-adopts-play-it-cool-strategy-with-putin
