Cold war mentality should have no place in US relations

The world’s powers should be working together to solve problems and challenges. But rivalry and mistrust have caused divisions that were apparent with the re-election to new terms of President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.

They were quick to congratulate one another and pledge to strengthen the partnership between their governments, but accolades have been scant from the West and its allies.

There is no better evidence of a cold war mindset that, if allowed to take root and spread, could well have dire consequences for global stability and prosperity.

US President Donald Trump has not taken that into account as he strives to deliver election pledges to voters, among them “making America great again”.

He has instead taken the opposite approach towards China and Russia, naming them his country’s biggest rivals and threats.