Friday, February 05, 2021
New US foreign policy
Moscow accuses Biden of "aggressiveness"
In his first major foreign policy speech, US President Biden announced a tougher line against Russia. The answer from Moscow followed promptly: Biden was "aggressive" and they refused to be taught. The tone between the two great powers intensified within a very short time.
Russia accused US President Joe Biden of being aggressive after his first key foreign policy speech. Nevertheless, the Russian leadership continues to hope for dialogue, said the spokesman for the presidential office in Moscow, Dmitri Peskov.
Biden proclaimed a new era in US foreign policy on Thursday. The new US president said the days when the US ignored Moscow's behavior are over. Last week he made this clear to Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call "in a completely different way" than his predecessor Donald Trump. "To our regret, this is very aggressive, unconstructive rhetoric," said Peskow of Biden's speech.
The Russian leadership nevertheless hoped that there could still be a useful dialogue between the two states. However, the spokesman pointed to "an enormous amount of differences and different approaches to key issues" and stressed the defense of Russia's interests. "We expect the political will of the Americans to continue cooperation where it serves our interests," said Peskow.
Moscow wants to "ignore" teachings
As an example of Russia's actions, Biden cited, among other things, interference in US elections, cyber attacks, alleged rewards for the Taliban for killing US soldiers in Afghanistan and differences over the Ukraine conflict.
Even a case like the poison attack on the Russian opposition politician Alexej Navalny will no longer be accepted so easily. A court sentenced him to several years in a prison camp on Tuesday. The 44-year-old is said to have violated probation requirements while he was in Germany after a poison attack. Thousands of arrests were made during protests against detention.
Biden said Moscow's efforts to undermine freedom of expression and assembly are a matter of great concern. The Russian leadership has repeatedly denied involvement in the attack on Navalny and rejected the new US president's call for the Kremlin opponent to be released immediately. Ultimatas are generally not acceptable, said spokesman Peskow. "We have already said that we will ignore such teachings."
.