Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry's piece in the overall puzzle being put together by President-elect Donald Trump is a big but simple one, author Jason Parker wrong in a Dallas News op-ed: "Revive Russia to offset China."
And Perry's role as Trump's pick to be secretary of energy is negotiating with Russia to give Vladimir Putin what he wants — a pass on nuclear disarmament.
Doing that earns Trump leverage with China to get what he wants — the upper hand in global economics, Parker wrote.
"If Trump wants to change the global economic equation, then he must have leverage against China," he continued. "To gain that leverage means getting it from the only other player in the room but not at the table, Russia. A stronger Russia, after all, will introduce complexity to Beijing's thinking."
And this, not energy production, is Perry's — as well as secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson's — role on the nuclear chess board.
"Like the other Texan, Rex Tillerson, Perry appears to be enlisting as a foot soldier in Donald Trump's campaign to revive Russia — with considerable risk — to offset China," Parker wrote.