Trumpled (Alternative Leading)

[Mav]

You said:

... his stated desire to improve relations with them. This undermines the narrative that they are a very dangerous enemy of the US and the main justification for a $1Trillion annual defence budget.

You suggested therefore that improved relations would lead to reduction in the annual defence budget.  I disagree.

In particular, improved relations with Russia wouldn't reduce the need for the US to be able to confront the Russians if the relationship worsened.  And it certainly wouldn't justify reducing the ability of the US to meet challenges from hostile or adversarial forces elsewhere in the world.

I assume you are referring to the military/industrial complex when you talk about "very, very powerful and influential interests in the US".  As the defence budget wouldn't fall, why would they be worried?  After all, Trump campaigned on increasing the defence budget and insisted that the Congress had to implement such an increase in recent budget negotiations. 

No doubt there are military and diplomatic personnel who are concerned about the Russians.  Maybe those concerns have little to do with money and more to do with hardheaded concerns about the Russians.