The Helsinki Summit: A Propaganda Tool for Putin and Trump

Recently, a question was posed: if President Trump is a Russian agent of influence, and Putin is his handler, why did the Russians opt for such a high-profile summit in Helsinki?

Understanding Agents of Influence and Their Role

Agents of influence are not spies; they are individuals who are sponsored by a powerful entity to serve certain interests. Spies, on the other hand, have handlers—individuals who control their actions and provide them with financial support. However, agents of influence do not necessarily have handlers, nor do they solely rely on monetary support. They act in their own self-interest and ambition, often sharing information with their sponsors but not always acknowledging that they are agents of influence. In most cases, agents of influence do not need to meet their sponsors face-to-face, as they can communicate through both direct and indirect channels.

The Purpose of the Helsinki Summit

The summit in Helsinki was not a serious negotiation but rather a strategic propaganda tool designed to gain media attention and public perception. Both Putin and Trump were seeking the media spotlight and the opportunity for a photo opportunity. Trump's admiration for Putin is well-known, and this might explain his willingness to engage in such a summit.

There is a clear takeaway: if President Trump is not already under Putin's influence, he wants to be. The desire for such a high-profile summit suggests a calculated move to enhance his international standing and to gain the support of his Russian counterpart.

Putin and Russia's Interests

I do not believe that President Trump is a “agent” of the Russian government or that Putin is his handler. Instead, Trump is a highly manipulable “useful idiot” that Putin believes he can use to further Russian interests. Russia's interests are straightforward and not sinister. Russia wants to ensure its national security, protect its borders, and safeguard its energy industry and regional influence, particularly in the Middle East.

During the Yeltsin regime, the US engaged in political interference, which likely still rankles Putin. The Russian intervention in the 2016 US election was a response to perceived Russian interests, as Putin believed Donald Trump was more amenable to Russia's agenda than Hillary Clinton. The media attention and political implications of the Helsinki summit were an attempt to capitalize on this.

Future Relations with Russia

Good relations with Russia will likely end political meddling in US politics. However, if US policies pose a direct threat to Russia's national security and economic interests, the Russians, like the US, will take action to protect their own interests. The Helsinki summit was a calculated move by both parties to present a positive image and to skirt political and media scrutiny. The underlying purpose was to benefit from the perceived alignment of interests, regardless of whether one party is truly an agent of the other.