With Putin as Trump’s BFF, threat of global war may end

Although fighting in Aleppo between the rebel forces and Syrian government troops, aided by Russian air power, continues, fears of a global war has eased following the election of Donald Trump as the 45^th president of the US on Wednesday.

No less than Russian President Vladimir Putin was one of the first world leaders to congratulate Trump on his victory over rival Hillary Clinton. In the congratulatory telegram, Putin said he hopes to work with Trump in removing from the crisis state of the Russian-American relations, Independent reported.

Putin, who looks forward to easing the western sanctions on Russia for Moscow’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 from Ukraine, said he has confidence in “building a constructive dialogue between Moscow and Washington that is based on principles of equality, mutual respect and a real accounting of each other's positions, in the interests of our peoples and the world community.”

Russian MPs even cheered on news that Clinton had conceded to Trump after Vyacheslav Nikonov, chairman of Russia’s parliamentary committee on education and foreign affairs, announced Trump’s poll victory.

Charles Robertson, global chief economist of Renaissance Capital, said the chances of the sanctions on Russia being lifted has risen substantially which would improve investment climate in Russia, Reuters reported. Russia favoured Trump over Clinton whom Putin once accused on rousing protests against him.

It is not only Russia, but even Islamists extremists are happy with Trump’s election, according to The Washington Post. However, their cheering comes from the perspective of the US starting “dark times” under a Trump administration characterised by domestic unrest and new foreign military campaign that would sap Washington’s strength.

An excerpt from the al-Minbar Jihadi Media network, one of the jihadi forums to comment on Trump’s win, states, “Rejoice with support from Allah, and find glad tidings in the imminent demise of America at the hands of Trump.” Trump’s victory, according to an essay provided by SITE intelligence group, will bring hostility of Muslims against the US as a result of the next president’s reckless action.

Despite Trump’s friendship with Putin, some observers believe the two could disagree eventually. Huffington Post writer Matthew Taylor painted in March a scenario wherein Trump would spark a Twitter war with Putin by insulting the prophet Mohammad. It has the potentially of destroying 75 years of post-World War II international agreements and collaboration just because the UN “is too much a part of the establishment.”

Taylor pointed out then that Trump in the Oval Office would be “a perfect recipe for World War III” since the world would be “awash with percolating volatility.”