Republicans said Obama’s comments in Seoul on Monday to Russian President
Dmitry Medvedev – picked up by a live microphone – suggested that he planned
to cave in to Moscow if re-elected.
“This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility,”
Obama was heard to tell the Russian leader, who promised to transmit the US
president’s position to president-elect Vladimir Putin.
Obama’s most likely Republican challenger, Mitt Romney, immediately sought to
make political capital out of the comments.
“President Obama signalled that he’s going to cave to Russia on missile
defence, but the American people have a right to know where else he plans to
be ‘flexible’ in a second term,” said Romney, who was campaigning in
California.
In Washington, the White House explained it was committed to implementing a
missile defence shield in Europe despite Russian objections, but that
long-standing hurdles meant it would take time to conclude a deal.
Washington and Nato argue that the shield is meant to protect Western nations
against missile attacks from potential future nuclear powers such as Iran.
Moscow fears the shield could undermine its own nuclear capabilities.
Source: AFP
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