Sen. John McCain tried to assuage fears about the United States’ role in NATO moving forward during a visit to Estonia on Tuesday, pressing that the United States is committed to the alliance less than a month before President-elect Trump is set to be sworn in.
Trying to reassure the Baltic states, McCain told reporters that the U.S. relationship with them will remain unchanged despite comments made by President-elect Trump on the campaign trail — specifically, his claim that he would not automatically come to the aid of new NATO members in the Baltic region following a hypothetical Russian attack.
“But I am convinced and certain that our relationship and … the American relationship with NATO, will remain the same,” McCain said, adding that there would be a “a strong and significant response” if Russia made a move in the Baltics.
“I think the presence of the American troops here in Estonia is a signal that we believe in what Ronald Reagan believed, and that is peace through strength,” McCain said. “And the best way to prevent Russian misbehavior by having a credible, strong military and a strong NATO alliance.”
Many in the region fear possible action by Russia in the Baltics, especially after the Russians annexed Crimea in 2014. Starting in 2014, the U.S. stationed 150 troops in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as well as Poland, while also leveling sanctions against Russia for their action in Crimea. McCain said that he does not expect those sanctions to be removed.
McCain also touched on the Russian involvement in the U.S. election, saying that there is “no doubt” that they were involved in hacking, but argued that their impact on the election has been overstated.
“There is no doubt that the Russians were hacking, but there is doubt whether it had any effect on the outcome of the election,” McCain said.
“There is no evidence right now that indeed the Russian cyberattacks and the leaking of the information had any tangible effect on the outcome of the American election,” he added.
The Arizona Republican made the remarks during a three-day trip to the Baltics with Sen. Lindsey Graham. The pair will travel to Latvia on Wednesday and Lithuania on Thursday.
