Description: The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had a phone call with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov where discussions were held regarding the overcoming of several global geopolitical obstacles between the superpowers. The phone call represented a follow up on Trump and Putin’s conversation held on 12 Feb where the headline was the war in Ukraine. Rubio and Lavrov discussed the current provisions the countries would have to make regarding Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East and the overcoming of trade, economic and diplomatic barriers set by ex – President Biden’s administration.
Impact: Setting the stage for reignition of diplomatic ties with Russia puts US foreign policy in a precarious position. President Trump ousted Europe and NATO allies from all and any future conversations on Ukraine by circumventing them and reestablishing initial open lines of communication with Russia once again. The follow up phone call between Rubio and Lavrov expresses the political will by both countries in reconfiguration of primary global issues. The bilateral closeness between the superpowers although ill – perceived by almost all EU and NATO allies could represent a pragmatic approach in resolving global disputes.