The Return of the Iron Age

The Alaska summit between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump is likely to be remembered as a pivotal moment — a turning point in international affairs that opens new, and potentially troubling, horizons, some of which are already visible. Its significance lies less in whatever terms might emerge from an agreement than in the format itself: a bilateral between Moscow and Washington from which Europe and Ukraine are excluded, or at best politely invited as spectators. For the Kremlin, this alone constitutes a success, symbolically marking a return to an order based on spheres of influence, where European security is decided elsewhere and without the direct participation of those most affected. More importantly for Russia, it is proof that force, applied with persistence and determination, can not only resist external pressure but dictate the terms of engagement. By contrast, any potential gains for Washington seem short-term and tactical.