Until a few hours ago, the world was waiting for the announcement that Trump had planned to make today and which, it was presumed, would further strain relations with Vladimir Putin. Finally, the content of the meeting between the U.S. president and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutter and the drastic decision they took together to stop Russia’s attacks on Ukraine has just been revealed.
At a press conference, and backed by the presence of his government officials and Rutter, Trump has just announced that he will impose tariffs of up to 100% on Russian trade and on those who dare to establish trade relations with the European country.
With this threat, the U.S. president hopes to have an impact on Russia’s decision to continue participating in the war it has been waging, until today, against Ukraine. The conflict, which has been going on since 2022, has increased the violence during all this time, and has left an approximate toll of more than 400,000 people to date.
On several occasions, international organizations, as well as key political figures such as the late Pope Francis, tried to mediate in the conflict, but without achieving positive responses that would favor a ceasefire.
And with this decision, the U.S. government hopes to give the final blow to isolate Russia and demand Putin to stop the advance of his armies on Ukrainian territory.
The threat of tariffs
Specifically, the announcement just made by Trump in the company of the Secretary of NATO is clear: the US has decided to impose tariffs of up to 100% on trade with Russia and countries that dare to maintain economic ties with that nation.
The President made it a condition for Putin to agree to end the war within 50 days, to avoid what would be the total isolation of Russia, the destruction of its economy and the nullity of its participation in the global capitalist system, now dominated by the US.
โWe are very, very unhappy with (Russia), and we are going to impose very severe tariffs if we don’t have an agreement in about 50 days,โ the U.S. leader sentenced. He also expressed frustration at not having been able to reach an agreement with Putin, after repeated attempts.
โIt’s all words and then missiles enter Kiev and kill 60 people,โ he added. With this decision, the international political landscape is paralyzed by the consequences that Trump’s threat may bring to the economic balance of smaller scale countries that depend on their business with Russia.
Which countries see their economies at risk?
As a side effect, it is expected that if Russia does not comply with U.S. and NATO conditions within the estimated timeframe, several countries will see their economies collapse. One of the most affected would be China, Russia’s main partner and military ally.
The power, which maintains a dispute of great magnitude with the US for energy, economic, technological and arms supremacy, would be put in check strategically and cornered by Trump, after the recent announcement.
Thus, in a sophisticated move, the American leader would try to kill โtwo birds with one stoneโ by simultaneously shaking the economic situation of Russia and China.
Meanwhile, the rest of the countries that will have to evaluate the continuity of their agreements with Russia are Turkey, India, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, Cuba, among others.
In addition, the U.S. also urged European Union nations to send financial and military support to Ukraine. In case they do not comply with the request, it will apply 30% tariffs to products from the continent. Thus, this threat would put the main exporters of the โold worldโ – Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands – at a huge disadvantage.