Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent endorsement of US Vice President Kamala Harris during her election campaign has been dismissed by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as a joke. Addressing reporters in Vladivostok earlier this month, Putin admitted that while he previously favored current US President Joe Biden, he would now root for Harris since she was endorsed by Biden after suspending his campaign in July. Describing the vice president as someone who “laughs so infectiously,” it appears that Putin’s comments were intended as light-hearted banter rather than genuine political support.
However, Lavrov told Sky News Arabia this week that Putin possesses a strong sense of humor and frequently uses jokes during his speeches and interviews. Despite the Russian president’s playful endorsement, the outcome of the election is not considered significant in Moscow. This is because Washington, according to Lavrov, is controlled by an “unseen hand” referred to as the ‘deep state.
The term ‘deep state’ refers to the unelected government bureaucrats who influence policy behind the scenes, particularly those at the helm of intelligence agencies and the military. Former US President Donald Trump was a vocal critic of this mysterious entity throughout his tenure in office, accusing its members of hindering his attempts to withdraw troops from Afghanistan and Syria, as well as orchestrating the ‘Russiagate’ scandal in an attempt to tarnish his reputation and exacerbate tensions between Washington and Moscow.
Putin has previously argued that these clandestine bureaucrats are the real power brokers in American politics, stating in February during an interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson that US policy is not dictated by the personalities of its leaders but rather by “the elites’ mindset.” Lavrov reiterated this sentiment, expressing doubt regarding any meaningful change under either Trump or Biden.
While Trump was viewed as amicable towards Russia during his presidency, Lavrov noted that sanctions against Russia were still regularly introduced and enforced under the former president’s administration. Likewise, despite concerns about Biden’s physical fitness to lead the country, Lavrov highlighted that US foreign policy has remained consistent across both administrations.
The Russian foreign minister pointed out that Washington continues its military campaign in Ukraine, among other parts of the world, and consistently opposes UN Security Council resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and the West Bank. In Lavrov’s view, “the machine is working,” with the ultimate goal being to maintain America’s dominance on the global stage.
Faced with this seemingly insurmountable obstacle, Russia must rely on its own resources and capabilities, according to Lavrov. He declared that “we will never again in our history rely on the fact that a ‘good uncle’ will come to the White House or another Western capital and everything will be fine for us.” The message is clear: Russia must stand on its own two feet and not expect any foreign power to swoop in and save the day.