The United States will never successfully partner with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Arizona senator John McCain warned Thursday, in an apparent rejection of vows from the president-elect to improve relations with the country.
“Each of our last three presidents has had great expectations of building a partnership with the Russian government. Each attempt has failed,” McCain, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said during the confirmation hearing for Trump’s defense secretary pick, Retired General James Mattis. “Not for lack of good faith and effort on the U.S. side, but because of a stubborn fact that we must finally recognize Putin wants to be our enemy.”
“He needs us as his enemy,” he continued. “He will never be our partner, including in fighting [the Islamic State]. He believes that strengthening Russia means weakening America.”
“We must proceed realistically on this basis,” McCain said.
President-elect Donald Trump has promised to mend relations with the Kremlin, and has suggested working with Russia in the Middle East to defeat the Islamic State.
“If Putin likes Donald Trump, I consider that an asset, not a liability, because we have a horrible relationship with Russia,” Trump said Wednesday. “Russia can help us fight ISIS.”
“If you look, this administration created ISIS by leaving at the wrong time. The void was created. ISIS was formed. If Putin likes Donald Trump, guess what, folks, that’s call an asset, not a liability,” he added.
