US agencies looking to next steps after expulsion of Russian diplomats and intelligence officers

Developments on Day 435 of the Trump Administration:

Trump’s Silence on Moscow Continues

Donald Trump holds out against a tougher US policy towards Russia, even after the expulsion of 60 Russian personnel over Moscow’s possible involvement in a nerve agent attack in southern England, according to US officials.

Trump, who is an admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin and who may be compromised by his 2016 campaign’s links with Russian officials, has long defied Congress and his agencies over political and economic measures.

Trump refused for months to confirm last summer’s Congressional sanctions on Moscow over its interference in the 2016 election, missing a January deadline and finally accepting limited implementation earlier this March.

He was silent for more than a week after the March 4 attempted assassination of former spy Sergey Skripal with a Novichok-class nerve agent and the UK’s declaration that Russia was “culpable”. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson finally expressed Washington’s alliance with London, but was fired by Trump hours later.

Last week, despite explicit instructions from his advisors “DO NOT CONGRATULATE”, Trump paid tribute to Putin over the Russian leader’s re-election in a ballot criticized over the intimidation of opponents and manipulation of the vote.

On Monday, Trump finally gave way to US agencies and accepted the expulsion of the Russian diplomats and intelligence officers over the Novichok attack. However, he made no public declaration, on Twitter or in an official statement, over the action.

On Friday, in a further sign of tension, the Pentagon said it had no notice of a test of a new intercontinental ballistic missile conducted by Russia.

US officials said that they have been pursuing a firmer reaction for weeks. They said Tillerson had concluded that a policy of attempted cooperation with Moscow was not working and had begun mapping out a new approach. The Administration publicly blamed Russia for an attack on computers in Ukraine and elsewhere, accused Moscow of trying to break into the US power grid, and finally got Trump’s acceptance of the Congressional sanctions.

US agencies saw the nerve agent attack as confirmation that the tougher approach was needed, only for Trump to dismiss Tillerson.

It is uncertain whether his replacement and other appointments in a Trump purge of officials will tilt the balance back towards the President. The nominated Secretary of State, CIA Director Mike Pompeo, and incoming National Security Advisor John Bolton have been critical of Moscow.

Meanwhile, Trump’s silence continues, apart from loudly condemning the inquiry into Trump-Russia links as a “WITCH HUNT!”. On Friday, as Russia responded with the expulsion of personnel from 25 countries, Trump was on the golf course in Florida.