Just hours after FBI Director James Comey noted that a strong NATO “encircles and threatens” Russia, the State Department announced that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson plans to skip his first meeting with NATO foreign ministers but will visit Russia. In response to the unprecedented move, American Bridge President Jessica Mackler released the following statement:
“It’s unprecedented for the Secretary of State to skip a meeting with NATO allies, while making the extra effort to assure the Kremlin that Rex Tillerson won’t be missing his diplomatic trip to Russia in May. This only confirms our worst fears that the Trump administration values Russian interests too highly at the expense our own national security. Both Tillerson and Donald Trump have praised Vladimir Putin’s leadership, and by traveling to Russia but skipping a meeting with NATO, they’re sending a dangerous message to our allies around the world about their reckless allegiances and priorities.”
Published: Mar 21, 2017