Meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday delivered for America.
Following their talks in the Russian resort city of Sochi, the two held a press conference. But while Lavrov delivered a made-for-state-TV performance, Pompeo didn’t play the part Russia intended for him. As Lavrov attacked the United States on Venezuela, Iran, and election interference concerns, Pompeo smiled and waited for his turn. When Lavrov absurdly complained that the U.S. had produced no evidence of Russian election interference in 2016, Pompeo simply doubled down.
“Interference in American elections is unacceptable.” Any Russian targeting of the 2020 U.S. elections would lead U.S.-Russia relations to a “worse place,” Pompeo added. Although partly for domestic consumption, Lavrov was visibly agitated. Pompeo had refused to play nice in the face of Russian intimidation, showmanship tactics.
This is exactly how a senior U.S. official should handle meetings with Russian officials: with polite firmness and clarity. The Russians respect strength. As former Secretary of State John Kerry learned, Lavrov thrives on perceived weakness. There is good reason for Pompeo to act resolutely. President Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy is fundamentally opposed to U.S. interests around the world.
There’s a lesson here for President Trump. While his Russia policy is generally positive, Trump’s public interactions with Putin are reliably negative. Pompeo offers a better example for American leadership.
