Although I am not a Putinista, like some on FR, I see no reason not to explore common ground with Russia, such as our joint interest in fighting Islamic extremism. As for Cuba, 50+ years of sanctions against Cuba achieved no results beneficial to the US. The Castros are still in power, and both we and the Cuban people are worse off because of the unrealized gains from trade between our countries. As I understand it, Trump paid a consulting firm to explore potential business opportunities In Cuba *in the event sanctions were relaxed or lifted*. What is the crime in that?
Russia is simply seizing the opportunity Obama gave them to grab a strategic foothold in the resource-rich Middle East. If Obama was serious about going after ISIS, which I don’t believe he ever was, we likely wouldn’t be in this situation, worrying about Russian expansionism in the region. I actually think Obama did what he did here deliberately, for the precise purpose of giving the Russians that opportunity, despite the public smoke and mirrors BS.