LISBON, Aug. 28 — Europe has been left at a disadvantage in dealing with Russia due to the United States pursuing policies that strategically benefit Moscow, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa warned on Wednesday.
Lusa News Agency reported that Rebelo de Sousa said at the Social Democratic Party’s Summer University in Castelo de Vide that the U.S. administration has created conditions that give Russia time to advance on the ground in Ukraine.
Unlike Europe, which imposed sanctions on Russia, Washington only threatened to do so, he noted. The Portuguese president also argued that the United States now maintains a “privileged dialogue” with Russia, while European countries have been forced to “push their way in” to recent talks in Washington aimed at seeking peace.
Rebelo de Sousa further described Trump as a “Russian asset,” highlighting that his leadership style undermines the separation of powers and traditional democratic structures.
This approach, which could even extend to interference in private companies, courts, or the Federal Reserve, would have been “deeply shocking in another era,” he warned. Tolerance for Trump’s actions has been created by today’s global emotional climate, he said.
There may not yet be a U.S.-Russian alliance rooted in friendship or ideological complicity, but the Trump administration has consistently favored Russia’s strategic interests, according to the Portuguese leader. (Xinhua)
