During an appearance at the Helsinki Security Forum this weekend, Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) criticized President Donald Trump’s policy toward Russia as enabling more aggression from President Vladimir Putin.
Gallego said the Trump administration is sending the wrong message by slashing Baltic security funding and failing to strongly rebuke recent Russian incursions in NATO airspace.
“Putin is testing not just us, and it’s just a series of escalations, whether it’s the drones over Poland or the flyover in Estonia,” Gallego said. “It’s push, push, push, and we don’t respond. It only encourages more and more negative action from Russia.”
The Arizona Democrat attempted to reassure attendees at the security conference that the United States is not abandoning its European partners, despite signals from the White House.
“This president is going to be gone in three years,” Gallego said. “The relationships and institutions that have really welded us together for so many years need to continue.”
Sanctions stalled. Gallego also accused Trump of holding up the adoption of the Russia sanctions bill sponsored by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.).
“A real message that this administration can send to Putin is to send that bill to the floor, pass it and start seeing the consequences of their actions,” Gallego said.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune hinted at floor action for the package earlier this summer. But the bill still hasn’t received a vote as Thune defers to the Trump administration.
Meanwhile, some GOP senators are losing patience with the White House and want Thune to put the sanctions bill on the floor regardless of any signals from the executive.
Talking Trump. Gallego also met with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who has emerged as a key mediator between Trump and other European allies. Per Stubb’s office, the two discussed the war in Ukraine and the importance of a “strong transatlantic alliance.”
Gallego hailed Stubb’s “very trusting relationship” with Trump, crediting the Finnish leader for adding “a very good perspective of being on the front lines of dealing with Russia.”
“He’s a really good golfer and that matters in this White House,” Gallego said.
Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) was scheduled to visit Finland with Gallego, but he had to cancel after the death of his brother last week. Banks and Gallego have become something of an unlikely bipartisan duo on foreign policy matters.
