Professor John Mearsheimer says Trump and Georgian Dream party share balanced approach to Russia

John Mearsheimer, an American political scientist and international relations scholar, on Sunday said there were two fundamentally different approaches within the United States toward Europe and Russia.

In his interview with Imedi TV, Mearsheimer noted that President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and several of Trump’s advisers support maintaining good relations with Russia and, at the same time, are not particularly inclined toward Europe.

According to Mearsheimer, this approach is clearly reflected in the new US National Security Strategy. However, he emphasised that this is only one of two American viewpoints.

“The second approach also includes influential figures such as Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell, whose attitudes toward Russia are much closer to those of Europeans”, Mearsheimer said.

He added that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and General Keith Kellogg - who remains Donald Trump’s chief adviser on Ukraine - are also part of this camp.

“Their views differ significantly from those of Trump and Vance”, he noted.

Mearsheimer stressed that Washington was divided in its approaches to Europe and Russia. He said Georgia faces a similar situation, with some political actors strongly hostile and distrustful toward Russia and eager for closer integration with the West, while others recognise Russia’s power, remember the 2008 war, and seek to avoid a repeat of conflict.

He argued that Trump’s worldview largely aligns with that of Georgia’s ruling party - Georgian Dream.

“The Georgian Dream wants balanced relations with Russia, and Trump also wants balanced relations with Russia. Given this convergence, one might expect Trump to be more sympathetic toward the Georgian Government, and from that perspective, there should be no problem”, he continued.

However, he cautioned that the US Congress is a different matter.

“I believe Congress is more inclined to oppose the policies of the Georgian Government”, Mearsheimer said, adding that the key question is which side will ultimately prevail in the United States.

Addressing speculation that Trump would prefer good relations with Georgia’s authorities for strategic reasons, Mearsheimer said he agrees that such an outcome would make sense and is likely. Nevertheless, he warned that Trump is known for frequently changing his views.

“From day to day, from week to week, Trump often changes his position. Given Trump’s nature and the deep divisions within American society, the Georgian Government must be extremely cautious in its relations with Washington. As an American, I hesitate to say this, but Washington is not particularly reliable”, Mearsheimer concluded.