Donald Trump’s administration is facing a serious shortage of specialists on Russia, the Financial Times reports. According to the newspaper, the president, in his second term in office, has relied on the loyalty of officials rather than their professional experience, while carrying out large-scale cuts in government agencies.
“It’s safe to say that Trump does not have a single policymaking person who knows Russia and Ukraine advising him,” said Eric Rubin, a former career diplomat who served as US ambassador to Bulgaria during Trump’s first term.
Of particular concern is the lack of traditional preparations for the upcoming US-Russian summit in Alaska. The FT notes that the National Security Council, which normally coordinates such meetings, has been significantly reduced.
The crisis has been compounded by State Department personnel purges in which Russia and Ukraine specialists have been fired. This casts uncertainty over Washington’s willingness to talk to Moscow at a time when diplomatic and professional support is at a historical low point.
