Russia today poses danger for US, world: Tillerson
President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, yesterday acknowledged that Russia poses an international danger and that its recent actions had "disregarded" US interests, as he faced a Senate grilling.
The former ExxonMobil chief executive's remark in his opening statement came against a backdrop of controversy over alleged Russian interference in the US presidential election and his own close ties to President Vladimir Putin.
"While Russia seeks respect and relevance on the global stage, its recent activities have disregarded American interests," Tillerson told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, without offering specifics.
Tillerson, whose entire professional career has been in the energy industry, has faced criticism for negotiating with several authoritarian leaders around the globe in his decades with Exxon.
But he stressed that as Washington's top diplomat, he will conduct a more robust US foreign policy than in recent years.
Trump has publicly stated he would like closer US ties with Russia and Putin, but Tillerson appeared keen to assure lawmakers, including some skeptical Republicans, that he will hold a tough line on Moscow.
"Our NATO allies are right to be alarmed at a resurgent Russia," he said, adding that the United States "must also be clear-eyed about our relationship with Russia."
"Russia today poses a danger, but it is not unpredictable in advancing its own interests," he said.
He also hit out at China, warning that the Asian power pursues its "own goals" and has not sufficiently helped rein in a nuclear-armed North Korea.
But the former oil executive said disagreements with Beijing on some issues should not preclude "productive partnership" on other matters.
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